Understanding Pakistans

Civil Military Divide

Mudassar Nawaz-03-PMS Probationer

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Why this topic is important ?

Today, when we stand at the crossroads of
history; we're fighting a great number of
challenges which are gigantic in magnitude
and some of them pose existential threat to
the state of Pakistan. It has all the way
become more important to harness a
harmonious and reinforcing relationship
between different institutions of the country
to encounter these challenges ; and military
and civilian government are two the most
important among them otherwise we have
already lost one part of the country in this
wrangling
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Defining
relations
Pakistan is basically civil-military
a Federal Parliamentary Democratic
Islamic Republic & civil
military relations means the relationship between democratically elected civilian
representative government and the military organization as a whole.it encompasses
the equation of power between the two vital forces.
In our country these relations have been very turbulent and sort of antagonistic
while for the development of the country we need very harmonious and supportive
relations between the two institutions i.e., Parliament and Military

An interesting insight ;Tracing

Pakistan & Indias Expedition To
Despite having started from the same point
Democracy
India & Pakistan provide illustrations
of
contrasting patterns of civil military relations.

British had established strong civilian

supremacy over military organization in
British India but these norms could not sustain
in Pakistan while India not only incorporated
them in the society so successfully that it is
the largest & the strongest democracy on the
face of earth today with very well established
democratic institutions and customs.

Fragile vs. Agile

Democracy

Where did Pakistan make mistakes ?

Javahar laal Nehru lived till 64 while Quaid
left in 48
We had 6 Prime Ministers till 58 while India
had just one till 64
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Fault Lines In The Equation :

Pakistan ; a security state
Indo-Pak war of 1948
This Gave military an unprecedented
privilege to deal with the security issues
11 years Delay in constitution making was
disastrous
Inter party conflicts destroyed unity
Provincial and Ethnic Differences
Subservient Role of judiciary
Judiciary is not only the guardian of the constitution
but also the guardian of the fundamental rights of the
people

http://www.dawn.com/news/1146181

Over Reliance On Military For Civilian Work

&International Support To Dictatorship
Inability of civilian government to
develop national institutions
Overreliance on military for
establishing its authority e.g., Karachi
operation
Gives an impression of incapability of
civil government to deliver

Ayub
Khan

Zia Ul
Haq

Parvez
Musharra
f

To Check
Communism
To Defeat
USSR
To Fight Al-qaida And
Taliban
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The cost of civil-military imbalance

Weakly established political
parties and civil society
Civilian governments have lost
credibility and there is a lack of
trust between government and
the people ;people consider
army
Society entered into a loop of
militarization and extremism as
a result of highhandedness &
imprudent policies of military
planners

Showed military the

corridors of power

Separation of East Pakistan

Kalashnikov culture &

religious fundamentalism
Scourge of suicide bombing
& ethnic and provincial
disharmony

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http://hilal.gov.pk/index.php/grids-preview/2014-09-09-14-38-33/item/816-civil-military-relations-in-pakistan-the-cu
rrent-troubles

The current status

Whos on the driving seat and why ?
PM Nawaz Sharif 3rd tenure
Army is overtly having full
control over security , foreign
and defense policies of the state
ISPR
Foreign ambassadors
Security advisor
Rebuking Defense Minister

Outlook of the future:

Though the long shadow of the military rule and imbalanced nature of civilmilitary relations are not over yet, Military has displayed rare restraint in last 7
years by not directly stepping in the active politics despite numerous golden
occasions to capitalize on.
It is because of the two factors :
1. Military has learnt some harsh lessons from the previous misadventures
2. It is the power of media ,judicial freedom, and maturity of politicians which is restricting it in barracks.

Any sort of mistrust may not augur well for the future of the country. The resolve
by COAS and the Armed Forces of Pakistan to support democracy is, indeed, very
positive and .The civil government must make full use of this opportunity and,
foregoing their personal interests and business, should deliver to the people and
strengthen democracy in this country for a better Pakistan.
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Suggestions to make the things

better
As a nation we are not clear regarding our ideas, ideals ideology heroes and
villains which creates unwanted problems. Even dictators and usurpers of peoples
rights are worshipped and held in high places like divine beings. we should
respect those leaders/politicians who ensure constitutional sanctity &
Constitutional supremacy and people doing the otherwise must be brought to the
books .
Education is a perquisite for a functional and flourishing democracy so to make
the things better we should patronize and promote quality education throughout
the country.
A large chunk of our society considers democracy Un-Islamic and unsuitable for
the country. This debate should come to an end now & to this end the help of
moderate and enlightened religious scholars can be sought.
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For Further Studies

The Army and Democracy: Military Politics in
Pakistan
By Aqil Shah
Harvard University Press, Cambridge.
Military Inc.
By Ayesha Siddiqa

Crossed Swords: Pakistan, Its Army, and the

Wars Within

Oxford Pakistan Paperbacks

THANK YOU !
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