Spotlight on Faiz

It was yet another presser on issues of national security and counter-terrorism efforts by the military. Director General ISPR taking a broad view of happenings on the calendar apprised the media and the nation that the armed forces are apt in responding to any fissures, and reiterated the army's commitment to apolitical stance. It was also pronounced for the first time officially that the court martial of former ISI chief, Gen Faiz Hameed, is underway for his alleged "overstepping of legal and constitutional boundaries at the behest of certain political elements". He is, nonetheless, also accused of corruption, misuse of authority and violating the Pakistan Army Act.

That was a starting disclosure and it is widely feared that its shadow of doubt could fall on the incarcerated former PM, Imran Khan, further blurring an already unstable political mosaic. Pundits of doom, however, say that the suspected political intermingling of the ex-spymaster may have new dots to connect with other political forces too.

The presser from the military brass was noticeable from the perspective that it extensively made it clear that the country is almost in a state of war with non-state actors as more than 130 operations are carried out on a daily basis, and in the last eight months 32,173 IBOs were conducted. Recalling the deadly attacks across Balochistan of August 25-26, the ISPR linked them with internal and external enablers, as revulsion in the desolate society is thriving on the premise of a sense of deprivation.

The spokesperson, unlike in previous interactions, was seen refraining from talking on evolving political unrest, and did not make a mention of the May 9 incidents, as well as other thorny issues. That was a good strategy, per se, coupled with the resolve that the army will move in for disciplinary action whenever it felt necessary to uphold its due course of institutional accountability. The need of the hour is that the military establishment sticks to its constitutional role, and ensures that internal inquiries and subsequent verdicts are purely on grounds of merit and apolitical.