KARACHI:
It was very gratifying to witness Pakistan’s armed forces publicly state that they are apolitical as per the oath they take to uphold and defend the Constitution of Pakistan. The oath pledges them to “bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan and uphold the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which embodies the will of the people, that I will not engage in any political activities whatsoever and that I will honestly and faithfully serve Pakistan in the Pakistan army by and under the law”. This oath does not pledge loyalty to any individual but the Constitution of Pakistan, its laws, and whosoever is the Constitutionally elected Prime Minister, President, etc.
In June 1948, during an address, the Quaid-e-Azam emphasised that the officers must understand the significance of the oath they take, which is complete loyalty and commitment to the Constitution of Pakistan. He further told the officers that “the spirit is what matters. I would like you to study the Constitution which is in force in Pakistan at present and understand its true constitutional and legal implications.”
This reminds me of US General Mark Milley who refused to obey former US President Donald Trump’s unconstitutional orders. He publicly stated, “We take an oath to the Constitution. In the event of a dispute over some aspect of the elections by law, US courts and Congress are required to resolve disputes and not the US military.” The Pakistani military’s recognition of its oath should ease everyone’s concerns. Importantly, it serves as a positive sign for the country’s political future and will spare us any humiliations and failings.
Malik Ali
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, April 16th, 2022.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
