Civil-military harmony imperative for state to function effectively: Mazari

Former PTI minister says it's prerogative of prime minister to make appointments of top military leaders of his choice


News Desk April 19, 2022
The minister urges international community to step forward and help avert the evolving humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Photo: Anadolu Agency

Former human rights minister and PTI leader Shireen Mazari has said that civilian supremacy is a norm in democracy but cordial ties between civil-military leadership are imperative for the state to function effectively.

“A lot of confusion is unnecessarily being created over civil-military relations. Let's get some facts clear. In a democracy civilian supremacy is the norm but for the state to function effectively there must be civil - mly harmony,” she said in a series of tweets.

Apparently referring to ousted prime minister Imran Khan’s decisions, Mazari said that it was the premier’s prerogative to nominate a candidate for the post of the chief minister and make appointments to the top military leadership of his own choice.

“So let's be clear. There is no arrogance in a PM appointing CMs of his choice - in fact it is his prerogative. Just as it his prerogative to advise President on selection of the 3 service chiefs. PM's prerogative to select DGI[SI]. Advice on military appointments always rightly sought from military,” she added.

The PTI leader referred Articles 243 and 245 of the Constitution saying that armed forces constitutional role is clearly defined “so if military assists civilian leadership in performing its tasks then it helps foster harmonious civil-military relations”.

Last week, former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the “misunderstanding” between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the military establishment must be cleared up.

His statement came a day after the country's top military brass took notice of the recent propaganda campaign by some quarters to malign the Pakistan Army and create a division between the institution and society.

"National security of Pakistan is sacrosanct. The Pakistan Army has always stood with the state institutions to guard it and always will, without any compromise," the ISPR statement said.

It is pertinent to note here that certain social media accounts generated trends vilifying state institutions, including the military, following the ouster of Imran Khan through a no-confidence motion earlier this month.

Rashid, while responding to a question in Peshawar, said: “No slogan should be raised against the army.”

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