The speech that will haunt the PML-N

The Gujranwala tirade by the three-time prime minister of the Islamic Republic, the PML-N supremo, Nawaz Sharif, against his own Army Chief and head of the ISI was unparalleled, unprecedented and uncalled for. In earlier iterations in this space, one had concluded that Pakistan’s civil-military construct was undergoing transformation. This piece continues the debate contained in earlier columns, the recent being “Unconstructive Criticism and Military Morale”, published on September 10, 2020, and “Crystal-gazing Pakistan — the Years Ahead”, published on July 22.

The actual war waged by the convicted leadership of PML-N and his fair-weather ally, the erstwhile Maulana Fazlur Rahman of the JUI-F, besides the hesitant leadership of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), against the security ‘Establishment’ remains ‘ostensibly’ about the civilian supremacy of the armed forces and not about democracy that is touted as its rallying cry. And civilian supremacy of the armed forces is never going to happen till the time governance and deliverance are exponentially improved.

To deflate the democracy argument, one does not need to look far. Both the cited parties have “Nawaz” and “Fazlur Rahman” suffixed to party names belying tall claims of democracy, under the thin veneer of dynastic politics.

The present political cabal — including the PTI — with its predatory tendencies is not capable of optimal governance and deliverance with or without corruption. Pakistan has emerged as a test case of governance for all stakeholders, asking for outstanding ability, capability, vision, devotion and incorruptibility in the leadership and excellent team work among the Establishment and other organs of the state. And that is a tall order indeed. In the absence of these conditions, our model will evolve gradually… erring and correcting. The chances of a Mahathir here and a Lee Kwan there are few and far apart. The political leadership of the day — across the board — deals with the situation ‘as it evolves’, with no foresight and far-sight.

Picking up against the Establishment is also a desperate attempt to stay afloat in a political culture having short memory and a shorter life. Irrelevance is a painful demise for politicians worldwide. Politicians need to feel part of the ‘decision-making’ ashhrafiyya (elite) all the time, hence the noise. The noise also prevents ‘nabbing’ the corrupt amongst them.

The winner is the one making the loudest, the most sensational and the most ludicrous noise. Discussions degenerate into rhetorical battles with emphasis on winning the argument, rather than an objective approach towards problem-solving. Treasury and opposition without difference.

So the ‘Nawaz-bomb’ dropped during the PDM rally in Gujranwala on Friday, October 16, following similar fireworks by the great Maulana — circulating on social media — has a context. However, the speech has implications that are going to haunt PML-N for years to come… in every election, at every step. It would be more damaging to the PML-N than to Imran Khan, Gen Bajwa or Gen Faiz. And no spin can reverse that damage. The diatribe was as unnecessary as it was playing overtly to the tune of the enemies of the State of Pakistan.

Without falling on Imran Khan’s argument about looters and plunderers coming together to protect their ill-gotten fortunes to escape accountability, Nawaz’s salvo has in fact put his ardent backers on the defensive. The little support he enjoyed in the military and other outfits has vanished. How can you raise slogans against a sitting army chief — appointed by you — and another state functionary without implicating the organisations they head? And how is it possible then to re-orient criticism without implicating the State, the country and the nation itself? And whose bidding you think you are doing? If you idolise Erdogan, first match his governance and deliverance.

Without understanding these basics, a three-time prime minister lends credence to theories circulating about his ability and capability. PML-N diehards would henceforth be lost proffering explanations only, as justifications are unthinkable. And true to our political culture, most PML-N stalwarts would already be in communication with the Establishment, distancing themselves from Nawaz’s tirade. No wonder he was excluded from the Karachi rally. His denunciation has irreversibly damaged his credentials in Punjab, his so-called stronghold and the mainstay of Pakistan Army, where Bajwas also live.

One is amazed at the subsequent commentary in our ‘no-holds-barred’ media, discussing laughable propositions like options available to the government and the army. The government should be happy, PML-N has finally bottled itself in a corner that can be further squeezed. The army should go all out in filing a ‘sedition’ charge against the PML-N supremo with full backing of the government and judiciary, which is equally appalled at the convict’s iterations given the past history of his attack on the Supreme Court. And the UK needs to be nudged with full diplomatic force to hand over the convict, as Britain has become ilaqa ghair (no-man’s land) for political criminals from around the world.

And the military needs to dig its heels and provide full support in accordance with the Constitution to the present fledgling, inexperienced and incompetent political dispensation in the larger national interest, as the alternatives are bleak and chaotic. It must also burnish its SOPs and fight back the terrorists across Pakistan with all its prowess, inflicting greater harm and pain. Henceforth, the army should celebrate its ‘kills’.

The cases in accountability courts be swiftly and logically concluded with government machinery optimally behind the judiciary. And convicts be punished as per the law.

And those elements in the political cadre and bureaucracy who find it fashionable to swipe at the military need to remember that there is no fourth option for ruling Pakistan other than the military rule, they seem to loath. So continuation of the political system in any form and format is their only option.

And for the PML-N leadership generally and Nawaz Sharif particularly, a reality check is recommended in the villages and towns of Pakistan, to witness the love, respect and reverence, that people across Pakistan have for their ‘dhol sipahis’ — the military. He needs to be taken aback.

Jati Umra — at arm’s length from our border with India — in an Indian offensive would be protected by the same military that Gen Bajwa heads. To rephrase Churchill, countries with no militaries or weaker militaries generally house foreign militaries. Afghanistan is next door if Iraq and Syria are far. Cannot you see?

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2020.

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