'Every institution has to function within its constitutional ambit'

Every institution in Pakistan whether army or judiciary has to function within its constitutional ambit to remove obstacles in the way of vibrant governance free of any internal or external pressure to nurture democracy in these testing times. The problem with parliamentary system in Pakistan is that political class is divided and willing to go to any extreme for personal gains, which weakens its grip on power and pave way for undemocratic forces to take over.
Now, there are other players and politicians are approaching the superior judiciary not military hoping that it will knock out the government. All this directly or indirectly calls for military intervention. Adherence to the Constitution is the only guarantee to have a sustainable democracy and a balanced civil-military relations was the crux of the discussion of Pildat Dialogue Group on Civil-Military Relations and other participants at the seminar "Civil-Military Relations and Democracy: An Account of 2 Years" held here on Tuesday.
Pakistan is not following the ultimate model of parliamentary democracy, where decisions were made by the civilian government and there is no direct military involvement in politics. We have today a hybrid model of democracy with civilian government with military not desirous of bargaining the power, said Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi a prominent political and military analyst.
Civil-military relationship vary from issue to issue and required a constant review as military emphasis to safeguard its autonomy and does not want interference by civilian in their affairs, he said, adding that military has no permanent alliances in politics and its partnerships do change according to the felt-need. The civilian leadership can improve its bargaining with military if it succeeds in creating coherent civilian governance, he maintained, saying that it needs a strong tradition of constitutionalism, Rule of Law, Good Governance, Participatory Rule and equal distribution of wealth.
Constitution is the key document, which defines relationship among institutions, including military under a democratic dispensation. "Military, although back in barracks, remains the most formidable 'political' force in Pakistan capable of affecting the course and direction of political and social change," said Dr Askari with his analysis and account of 2 years.
During Musharraf era, especially last two years of his tenure image of military was tarnished and its rehabilitation was of the utmost importance for which the new army chief after taking the charge has order withdrawal of serving military officers from civilian jobs. Moreover, moral boosting of JCOs was needed as a lot of soldiers were demoralised by the fact that they were fighting for wrong cause.
After gradual realisation by April 2009 the military became clear about the kind of threat and started operation against terrorists and extremists. This gave credibility to military at global and local level. It demonstrated that it can fill the gap where civilian failed. PPP and ANP owned counter-insurgency plan, but JI and Imran Khan has questioned the rational of the operation, however PML-N has ambiguity in its circle on counter-insurgency plan.
One reason of tension was that after military operation civilian administrative backup was poor like there was no support in rehabilitation of the displaced persons. Rules of engagement clearly define no civilian interference in military matters like promotions etc as it undermines the discipline of the institution. He said implications of current and future civil-military relations in Pakistan depends upon shared decision-making in defence and foreign affairs, increased role of the Army High Command in Pak-US Strategic Dialogue, protection of the business and economic interests of the military, etc.
Shahid Hamid said that for a balanced civil-military relation, the clash between the two has to go. He disagreed that the rule of engagement with the military should mean no civilian criticism for military's business enterprises and housing colonies as that clearly is not the job of the military.
However, a gradual approach, by building the capacity of Parliamentary committees for oversight, a law to govern intelligence agencies, a civilian set-up in the Ministry of Defence are all key steps that need to be initiated and sustained by the Civilian Government and the Civil Society. The Minister of Defence is absent from meetings between the Army Chief and the President or the Prime Minister, strengthening the perception that he is only the Defence Minister for PIA. An empowered Defence Minister in command of the Defence sector is the need of the hour.
Lieutenant General Talat Masood (Retd) believed that a balanced and co-operative civil-military relationship is the cornerstone of democracy, which is lacking in Pakistan. There has to be a real supremacy of the civil over the defence sector for a sustainable democracy in Pakistan.
The current democratic dispensation, though enjoys entrance-legitimacy, is suffering from performance-legitimacy and it is outsourcing key policymaking to the military to the peril of a true democratic order in Pakistan. Mujib-ur-Rehman Shami said it is ironic that military is seen as a messiah today even though the State and Society are only reaping the ill-effects of the earlier military rules in Pakistan.
The civilian political governments need institutions in order to deliver and the very institutions have been destroyed by the military during its rule, which will take years and patience to build. Earlier, Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Executive Director Pildat, said that Pildat, which initiated and has been running a Dialogue on Civil-Military Relations for the past 5 years in Pakistan, believes that an undemocratic equation between the civil and the military remains the most potent threat to sustainable democracy.