Proof of the pudding

Military will have learned from Musharraf era that it can still do as much as it used to working behind the scenes.

The defence secretary’s remark, made to journalists on February 27 after attending a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Defence, that the military does not intend to interfere in the coming general election is most welcome, notwithstanding the fact that Pakistan’s past would suggest that it be taken with a pinch of salt. From dictators promising to hold elections in 90 days to constant vows that the army is an apolitical force, history tells us that more often than not, such announcements turned out to be untruthful. That said, it is worth noting that in the last week alone, three prominent military figures have stressed that elections will be held on time and the army has no intention of interfering in the process. Previously, both the army chief and the director general of the ISPR had made similar statements.



These words from the military should be taken seriously, if not fully believed, since some corroboration comes from Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, who has claimed that the army has not interfered with his work at all. Justice (retd) Ebrahim is known both for his honesty and opposition to military meddling so he is likely telling the truth when he dismisses legitimate concerns about interference. But even if the military has kept away so far, that does not mean they will continue to do so. The haggling over coalitions that will begin once the results are in provide fertile ground for the military to dangle the lure of money and power to ensure whichever government is formed is amenable to its interests. If there is one lesson the military establishment will probably have learned from the Musharraf era, it is that it can do about as much as it used to overtly by simply working behind the scenes. The 2008 election was relatively free and the traditionally anti-military PPP formed the government, but the military has been a constant thorn in its side and it is no secret that security and foreign policy, by and large, are controlled by it. On occasion, as with the Husain Haqqani memo case and the Kerry-Lugar Bill, the military did nothing to hide its disdain for the idea of civilian supremacy. So, while we welcome the statement, the proof of the pudding, as they say, is in its eating.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2013.