The shut-up call by GHQ is for SC, NAB, PAC and the media
News Analysis By Tariq Butt
ISLAMABAD: The target audience of the rare statement of Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, which raised several eyebrows, included four premier institutions and certain individuals occupying top slots in some of them, and the apparent purpose of this shut up call is to halt actions that end up irritating, upsetting or maligning the armed forces in any way.
The message coming from the chief military commander that is obviously ominous due to the mighty position he holds was meant for the consumption of the Supreme Court, National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly and other parliamentary bodies, and of course, the media especially the private TV channels, which always engage in needless hair-splitting and overstretching, with varying intensity and degrees.
The meaning of Kayani’s statement was quickly well noted by the chief justice the day after. “Yes, we have witnessed it yesterday. Our position is very clear and no one should have any kind of doubts,” Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry remarked Tuesday when, during hearing a petition on the US Navy Seals’ raid on Osama bin Laden, Raja Irshad, advocate, known for representing the premier intelligence agencies, said the Pakistan Army respects the court and has implemented all its orders.
In this case, the petitioner is seeking a ban on media for criticising the armed forces, intelligence agencies and other defence and security institutions. Irshad also opined that the media has brought the chief justice and army chief face to face.
Under all circumstances, the recurring refrain of the top judge is that justice must be dispensed regardless of the past clout and present standing of those arraigned. In pursuance of this goal, he has handed down rulings on issues that his detractors always felt he would not, particularly Asghar Khan’s petition about distribution of funds by the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) among politicians prior to the 1990 general elections.
The court’s role in the missing persons case and Balochistan law and order situation has also not been received well in many quarters especially the pulling up of the Frontier Corps Balochistan and Rangers in Karachi.
But even in its short order written by the chief justice, a Supreme Court bench kept in mind the prestige, honour and respect of the Pakistan Army and tried to keep it above the controversial engagements, when it said it has been established that in 1990 polls an election cell was set up in the Presidency to influence the exercise and was aided by Mirza Aslam Beg and Asad Durrani, and they participated in its unlawful activities in violation of the responsibilities of their institutions, which is an act of individuals but not of their institutions.
The court has to stomach a lot of ridicule, derision and scorn poured by the ruling coalition leaders for months for not taking up Asghar Khan’s petition and deciding it at an early date. But when it finally adjudged it, it came out with a decision that rang the alarm bells. Its outcome needs to be kept in mind while reading Kayani’s statement.
Besides, the Nadim Afzal Gondal led PAC is also busy in fiercely taking on the retired generals, whose names figure in questionable affairs of different organisations that they headed. Its proceedings have been more propaganda and less anything else. Icing the cake has been the statements of its chairman and members that they would not spare the former army generals.
However, it was during Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s tenure as the PAC chairman that the National Logistics Cell (NLC) scam got prominence with his recommendation that legal proceedings be initiated against the former generals including Khalid Munir Khan M Afzal Muzaffar, Khalid Zaheer Akhtar. The matter landed at the General Headquarters (GHQ).
Now, Kayani is mulling the next action against the officers after a military court of inquiry completed recording of evidence. “Recording of four summaries of evidence has now been completed and is under consideration of the competent authority. Basing on the credibility of the evidence accrued through these summaries, the COAS will decide on the next legal step,” the Inter Public Relations Services (ISPR) recently said.
The PAC Chairman has directed his office to write a letter to the Defence Secretary to seek an update on the NLC case and submit a report within 15 days.
Kayani’s message is also meant for the NAB, which recently summoned three former generals in connection with leasing the railway land for the Royal Palm Gold Club Lahore case. It recorded the statements of Lt-Gen (retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi, Lt Gen (retd) Saeeduz Zafar and Maj Gen (retd) Hasan Butt.
The short order in the Asghar Khan’s case, NAB proceedings, PAC’s high profile slogan chanting and the media’s blowing up the actions against the former generals are the actual factors behind Kayani’s 485-word statement.
But had the media been its only audience, and not the Supreme Court or any other institution that proceeded against former generals, as the military sources want people to believe as an afterthought, then there would not been any need of issuing such a lengthy release. There are many other ways to achieve that goal.
The positive commonality in the Kayani’s statement and the chief justice’s remarks is the stress on the rule of law, working within the well-defined bounds of the constitution, maintaining supremacy of law by all institutions etc. Meanwhile, the government is thrilled over Kayani’s statement for obvious reasons.
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