Addressing mistrust

Letter October 06, 2015
Demand to transport ballot boxes under military depicts absolute distrust between the people and civilian machinery

RAWALPINDI: This is with reference to the recent call by PTI Chairman Imran Khan regarding special transportation of ballot boxes in the forthcoming by-election in NA-122. The PTI’s demand to transport ballot boxes under the supervision of the military is not the first of its kind. That is what happens when absolute distrust exists between the people and the civilian machinery.

At one time or the other, the military has been called in for rescue, relief, and support for various sorts of activities. On the one hand, the military’s response and resolve to help or support the nation in any way is highly commendable. On the other hand, it has also been used as a refuge by the civilian machinery, which has shed its responsibility and has not delivered to the nation. The consequences of the said aspect have emerged in the form of incompetent and irresponsible civilian authorities. Can the fading trust of the nation in its national civilian machinery be restored? Can we really carry on with this national sense of irresponsibility? I think not. Enough is enough. The armed forces are already involved in operations of great significance; therefore, this story of incompetence, irresponsibility and mistrust has to be corrected by civilian authorities.

Syed Muhammad Ahmad

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2015.

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