This is apropos 'Democratic' subversion of rule of law!' carried by Business Recorder on Friday. The writer, Ikram Sehgal, who is widely known as a respectable defence analyst, has argued, among other things, the following:
"Notwithstanding Asif Zardari deliberately baiting Nawaz Sharif egging him on to take on the military, the PM has been firm that the "Karachi operation" will continue to restore sustainable peace in the centre of economic activity in the country. Rejecting the summary sent by the CM, the federal government said these powers under Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 could not be abridged, customised or made conditional. Buttressed by a well-publicised "show of force" by the Corps Commander, Lieutenant-General Naveed Mukhtar, by a visit to the Rangers HQ, the DG told a very agitated traders' delegation that the 'Karachi operation' would continue at the same pace "till its logical end" wherein the city regains its past glory, peace and stability. Major-General Bilal Akbar was reflecting the firm commitment of the present military leadership about eliminating terrorism from its roots all over the country, come what may! The question is not "whither Dr Asim", it is whither PPP?"
That the writer has shown a clear anti-Sindh government bias is a fact that has found its strong expression in his write-up under discussion. He has, however, failed to appreciate the fact that while the Anti-Terrorism Act and the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism and extremism are the two useful tools that the federal government has employed to assert its authority in relation to its dealings with Sindh it has shown a kind of contempt to the increased quantum of provincial autonomy that the 18th Constitutional Amendment has delivered to provinces. Such enhanced provincial powers, therefore become illusory, in the presence of a seemingly belligerent federal government approach to smaller provinces.
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