The need for strong and fair governance was never greater than it is today
KARACHI: The government and politicians from opposition parties have issued strong condemnations of Imran Khan’s statement urging people to welcome a military coup once again. Though his opinion demonstrates a disregard for democratic values, it raises an important question as to whether there is a need for a military takeover.
The armed forces are assisting in the maintenance of peace and security in Karachi and to dispense justice nationwide through military courts established under the 21st amendment of the Constitution. The government policies pertaining to foreign affairs have long been considered vital, yet contentious for being a monopoly of the government.
The role of the military is no longer limited to policy and policing alone. Unsurprisingly, their intervention is invoked to meet municipal requirements too, administering mass polio vaccines and training the Pakistan cricket team for its matches in England. The fallout of General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s tenure as the country’s chief executive has taught the men in boots a valuable lesson that it is better to rule under the shadow of the elected men and be admired rather than rule in the limelight and earn disapproval of the people.
The failures of present and past governments and their institutions to perform their duties due to a lack of infrastructure or sheer incompetence, or often both, has undermined the trust of the people paving the way for a military takeover. The need for strong and fair governance was never greater than it is today if the democratic institutions are to dig their roots in the country.
Hussain Idris
Published in The Express Tribune, July 27th, 2016.
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