When generals usurp power, it only pushes Pakistan into turmoil: Nawaz

Refuses to talk about rumours that ISI chief Ahmed Shuja Pasha’s tenure may be extended.

LAHORE: Chief of his own faction of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Sharif has said that when army generals usurp power from civilian governments, it only pushes the country towards turmoil.

However, he refused twice to talk in detail about reports that ISI chief Ahmed Shuja Pasha may be getting an extension in service. He was scheduled to retire in March 2010, but was twice given extensions.

Nawaz was speaking after announcing that Lahore’s busy Model Town Link Road will be renamed after Colonel Sheraz Shaheed, who died in South Waziristan.

However, while he lauded the Pakistan Army’s services, he criticised those armymen who had ruled the country, saying that when generals participate in politics it destroys the country and the nation has to suffer from their unconstitutional steps.

New provinces

Speaking a day after the premier reiterated his government’s support for a Seraiki province, Nawaz also cautioned the government, saying it must decide ‘responsibly’ on an issue that has long-term bearing on the country.

“Decisions like these which are due to affect the country’s future must only be announced after thorough consultation on the matter,” Nawaz Sharif told reporters on Monday. “It is not appropriate to make such announcements at isolated press conferences.”

“The Cabinet should meet on it and all political parties must arrive at a consensus which is in the greater interest of the country,” he said.

PML-N had earlier proposed that a commission should be established to deliberate on the matter and had even blocked coalition partner Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s move to pass a bill on South Punjab in the National Assembly. The party also worked against including the matter in the recently passed 20^th amendment.

He also dispelled the impression that there is any infighting in the PML-N, in response to a question about a recent statement by Zulfiqar Khan Khosa.

Continuing to criticise the incumbent government, Nawaz said that they were disappointed in the government as it had backtracked on its commitments. “If they had stayed steady, we would have continued to work in tandem with them.” They make weak decisions and then withdraw them, Nawaz said.

The way out of the current crises, he said, is an honest and competent leadership that respects Pakistan’s sovereignty and has a good track record. “Such a leadership can successfully steer Pakistan towards development,” he said.

When asked about his party’s policy on military operations with particular reference to former president Pervez Musharraf’s decision on South Waziristan, Nawaz said that when he was in power, there was no terrorism and no suicide attacks. “All such elements, we brought them to the negotiation table,” he said. “We were the government that amicably resolved the situation when Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan.”

He said that if, at the time of the fateful 9/11 attacks, Pakistan had had a democratic government, Musharraf-style ‘one man show’ decisions would not have been made. “Terrorism and extremism wouldn’t have been able to root themselves in Pakistan if civilian governments were not overthrown and power usurped by generals.”

He also criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf but without taking its name. “Those who chanted slogans of change, their voices are fading away. PML-N will bring the new era of change.”

Party elections

Earlier, speaking at the party’s provincial elections in Lahore, Nawaz said that if his government had not been toppled by Musharraf, Pakistan would have been among the developed countries. “I put the country among the seven atomic powers of the world and constructed the motorway when none of our neighbouring countries had it.”

He said that Musharraf had introduced the culture of political hypocrisy and dishonesty as well as opportunism.