A parliamentary committee on national security refused to attend an army briefing at General Headquarters (GHQ) this week on the current security situation and Pakistan-US relations.
The move is seen as an attempt by the panel to assert the supremacy of parliament on security issues, which otherwise are believed to be handled by the country’s powerful military establishment.
The head of the 17-member panel said the committee decided unanimously not to attend the briefing because “it would be in violation of its traditions.”
The committee set aside its original agenda of a discussion on the Pakistan-US diplomatic row to consider the invitation of the army, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani told reporters after the meeting.
“We have decided to continue following the tradition of holding meetings at the Parliament House as no one is supreme to parliament,” Rabbani said.
However, the committee chairman tried to downplay the controversy by saying the army and the ISI always briefed the panel when requested.
The committee on national security was one of four parliamentary panels which were invited by GHQ on Thursday for a briefing behind closed doors. Committees on defence, defence production and foreign affairs had already accepted the invitation and when asked about their decision, Rabbani said he could not speak on their behalf.
Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Director General ISI Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, among other senior officials, are expected to brief the committees.
Military officials were not available for reaction on the national security committee’s move to stay away from the briefing.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2011.
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@Think. . .: "Please respect your Arm Forces as they are the reason you have Pakistan!!!"
Sorry creation of Pakistan was a political and democratic movement. Partition of Pakistan in 1971 however was due to the army.
In any eventthe question is not of disrespecting the army but rather respecting the parliament and more importantly the 180 million people who voted for people in the parliament. Everywhere in the world, the generals go to the Parliament/Senate etc. to give briefing. They do not summon elected leaders to hear the briefing to army head quarters.
To the Pakistani citizens . . . .please question yourselves . . . about the security situation in the country and the reasons behind it. Did the politicians prevent the bloodshed?? How much bloodshed and crime went on?? So many lives lost and such rampant crime should never have happened and it sets a very poor example. Politicians have a lot of learning and long way to go and they should be working in harmony with the Military and not let their egos interfere when it is a matter of the country's security and soverignty. They should not be blinded by their power and the word democracy. Please respect your Arm Forces as they are the reason you have Pakistan!!!
@spacedoutwriting: It was Indian Army's Commander In chief who wanted to discuss on some 'adventure' over some decisions when she ordered him to explain and let him wait in her waiting room until she was ready to listen to him and he got some stern policy warnings and a lecture to obey any orders by the Prime Minister. That policy continued although the military has been advising some matters about Pakistan that were rejected during Kargil and Parliament terror attacks. Indian military followed what was told to do and without adventure of their own, unlike Pakistan military.
This is an irony that regretting a briefing due to it's RV (rendezvous). No one amongst the complete list of commentators knows the real 'Reason'. Ladies and Gentlemen its a humble request that IF you are a real citizen of Pakistan Dont make the mockery of your Armed Forces. It's pretty evident that most of the so called learned elite of this country hates people in Khaki even then please dont break it if you cant make it. Pak Fauj Zindabad - Pakistan Paindabad
@AnisAqeel:
India is another example where a law abiding military exists, thanks to Indira Gandhi.
Umm, how? Care to explain this?
@Mirza: Thanks and appreciate. We all must contribute positively to save our beloved country as most of the population is ignorant and does not know what is going on. There is an other Bangladesh in making and we must stop it.
@Sadia: I agree with you 100% thanks and regards, Mirza
"We, the politicians, have refused to attend the briefing by Pakistan Army at GHQ. But we will meet and brief American and other western powers ambassadors every day at their residence. We will discuss every issue with them which can help us to stay in the power or get into the corridors of power."
Turkey dumped their military supremacy and aligned their selves to abide the constitution and they are now on the path of progress, prosperity and better secured and can challenge any worldly threats because now they have made military to obey and not to dictate. India is another example where a law abiding military exists, thanks to Indira Gandhi. Good news from Pakistan after a long while and hope other parliamentarians will have courage to implement law and order as the constitution dictates.
Bravo, it is a good omen and a step forward to bring constitution to its place. We need military and ISI (an intelligential arm of our forces) this is why we have one and pay dearly but it must obey the constitution and people in the parliaments should summon them to explain policies and its matters and not the other way round. Our military takes institution as number one priority and Pakistan next and that is equivalent to treason. All the political parties and politicos must become brave enough like NA Committee to leash and control the powerful and mighty for the sake of this country.
good, appreciates partliamentarians on this.
Political Cosmetics and nothing else
Ofcourse Army is not God, but Parliamentarians are also no Angels. No ego problems should intervene matters of National Importnce. Such matters should be resolved decently and to be publicised or picked as a bold News Item
This attitude is not rational. Although I agree that Parliament is above all the insttutions, including the Pakistan Army, but they may have reasons to invite the committee,such as available visual aids, which is not very convenient and may be not very safe to take to any other location for secrecy reasons. This attitude shows arrogance and immaturity on the part of the committee members, even if it is haded by Mr. Rabbani.
Good and bold initiative, carry on with same impulse.
Cheap Popularity tricks by Political elite, who have already left troubling issues to be handled by Army,
@Karim: Raza Rabbani's and his committees stance is a matter of principles, not egos. It should be commended, not rejected cynically.
@Hafeez Pasha: Well, the army is not God. Parliament is supreme over all institutions in the country. Why bring God into this argument???
I disagree. If the army has something to 'brief' the parliamentarians about, they should ask to be invited to the parliament. That AND NO OTHER is the supreme body.
very commendable indeed! i wish the other committees that accepted this 'invitation' had shown an iota of integrity. shameless of them to go running at the GHQ's beck and call. if parliamentarians cannot uphold the supremacy of parliament, who will?
hehhe...few hollow acts which makes people satisfied with democracy...ask a common man if he even cares where the meeting is held!
@Hafeez Pasha: If that is the case, ask him to come and rule Pakistan and set right the problems. Just words are not enough.
@MAD: Please how is it foolish. Will some day ever the people of Pakistan will really have self-confidence to know that armed forces in any form are the servants of employers i.e. people and not their masters.
"Journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step". Congratulations on taking the first step
The war of egos.........every tom dick and harry wants power...........
Is it foolish or brave. Places do not matter, content matters.
These are the first baby steps towards real democracy. The military should be subservient to the Parliament and not vice versa. The Military must be told that they don't set the agenda for anything.
Parliament is not supreme. God is.
Wonderful. Keep it up.
That is the way to run the government. Bravo to Raza Rabbani and PPP.
It would have been wise to accept the invitation and have a better understanding.
I think it is time that we speak to the ones who have masterminded our foreign policy - the designing and implementing agency is the same so let's fix the responsibility of failures so that to avoid confusion. It looks like to me that no-one is sincere to Pakistan.
Wao! Wonderful news from a gloomy-doomy Pakistan. If Pakistan has to develop and prosper, we have to keep the generals under the thumb. Easier said than done. But it is the first step in the right direction.
Brave on their part. foolish also but definitely brave.