Civil-military ties: In a ‘bold move’ Gen Kayani shows support for Nawaz

Shahbaz Sharif takes charge of military-related affairs.

ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE:

Not all roads lead to Raiwind, as some still lead to Model Town. That’s the road army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani took when he called on the country’s incoming prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore on Saturday. It was a significant move, even though it is being classified as an unofficial visit.

While the media office of Nawaz’s winning party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, and the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) refrained from issuing a statement on the meeting, officials from both sides confirmed the meeting, terming it a positive step. They added that the meeting should be taken as a consensus on national issues by military and political forces.

Senior PML-N officials said the meeting was a regular congratulatory call, during which the chief of army staff met his incoming civilian boss. On the other hand, officials within military circles said the meeting between Nawaz and Gen Kayani was to send a message that the elected government and the military are on same page.

PML-N sources said the army chief’s visit to Lahore was a private one and that he arrived at Shahbaz’s Model Town residence in a private vehicle. The former Punjab chief minister had arranged lunch in his honour and invited Nawaz as well, they added.

The army chief stayed for over an hour with the Sharifs.



Shahbaz: the point man

Meanwhile, in another significant development, Shahbaz Sharif will be the focal person to deal with military-related issues.

PML-N’s top officials said Shahbaz Sharif had discussed all concerned issues with Gen Kayani, and during the meeting, briefed Nawaz on the issues of law and order, war on terror, important portfolios and so on.

In 1999, Nawaz’s father late Mian Muhammad Sharif often dealt with the army and is said to have played a vital role many times in the relation between former military chief Pervez Musharraf and the PML-N chief.

Compared to Nawaz, Shahbaz has had a relatively positive relationship towards the military, including the issue of Musharraf.

According to sources close to the Sharif family, Nawaz is eager to follow up on Musharraf’s trial in order to set a precedent of a general being tried under Article 6 of the Constitution. Shahbaz, on the other hand, wants to absolve Musharraf and let him flee abroad again.

Officials said the Musharraf case was also discussed in the meeting between the Sharif brothers and Kayani but in a ‘light mood’.

Analysts welcome meeting

Analysts perceive Nawaz’s meeting with Gen Kayani as a ‘bold initiative’ on the army chief’s part.

Defence and political analyst Imtiaz Gul, while talking to The Express Tribune, said, “The meeting should definitely be taken as a bold step on the part of COAS Kayani as he did the same back in 2008 when he himself went to congratulate then premier elect Yousaf Raza Gillani to assure him of the military’s support for democracy.”

Senator and information secretary of PML-N, Mushahidullah Khan, on the other hand, viewed the meeting as customary. He said there was nothing to speculate about since army chiefs always congratulate prime ministers as per tradition.

Hinting at the details of the discussion, Khan said that “the military leadership has been conveyed that the list of tribulations being faced by the nation is too long and people are expecting the PML-N to resolve all of them on an urgent basis.”

Lieutenant Gen (retd) Talat Masood said Pakistan is re-gaining its glory and the international community is taking these developments as a “positive sign for Pakistan”.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2013.