“Although Pakistan has an elected civilian government, the military retains considerable autonomy and influence in matters of national security, foreign policy, and some elements of economic policy.” – Freedom in the World 2015 Report, https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2015/Pakistan
Who is more dangerous for Pakistan, terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Massod Azhar or journos like Cyril Almeida, is the question roaring in Pakistani minds. An exclusive story by newspaper The Dawn titled, “Act against militants or face international isolation, civilians tell military” created havoc in Pakistan. Its author Cyril is put under Exit Control List, blocking his visit outside Pakistan. A series of denial came from the government over a ‘secret meeting’ between top civil-military officials. The strained relationship between civil government and military establishment is not new to Pakistan. Such knee-jerk reaction to a media report indicates serious rumblings taking place within the State of Pakistan (represented by the Elite) and Pakistan as a Nation (represented by People).
Since the creation of Pakistan, for the first time there was peaceful transfer of power among the civilian governments in 2015. Besides 3 official coups, there were indirect military interventions or attempts at overthrowing the democratically elected government. The economic and political clout enjoyed by military elites always kept them away from public scrutiny and democratic accountability. Cyril’s story indicated that for the first time the Civilian Government is challenging the ISI chief by raising critical questions about his responsibility. This was unacceptable to the all-powerful military-industrial complex of Pakistan, so as a face-saver Sharif government had to act in haste.
As the report indicates, addressing ISI Gen. Rizwan Akhtar, Shahbaz Sharif, younger brother of Prime Minister and the Governor of Punjab province, complained that “whenever action has been taken against certain groups by civilian authorities, the security establishment has worked behind the scene to set the arrested free”. This is a clear blame on Pakistan military for promoting terror. It is a direct endorsement that military is nurturing terror networks and Pakistan has to now pay heed to international demands to curb terrorism; namely “action against Masood Azhar and the Jaish-i-Mohmmad; Hafiz Saeed and the Lashkar-e-Taiba; and the Haqqani network”. Terming Cyril’s story as ‘fictitious’ is aimed at pacifying these terror groups, which the Pak Army cannot afford to abandon.
But the real wrath that Cyril faced seems to be not because of his original story about the October 3 secret meeting but what he wrote two days later. In his follow up piece, ‘Interesting Days Again’ he opines that “Raheel snatched foreign policy from Nawaz and screwed it up”, which led to international isolation and economic downturn. What he said further is more interesting, “With major military operations in Fata winding down, the boys have wanted to amp up the fight against anti-Pakistan militants in Punjab.” Nawaz and his League cannot afford this in Punjab for obvious political reasons. The tussle over ‘my militants and your militants’ between civil and military establishments. led to the consensus on action against Cyril that ultimately boomeranged.
Pakistani State as a whole is promoting terror in different ways; it is ultimately harming the people of Pakistan. Though military is largely responsible for creating instability and using it further to perpetuate terror networks, this policy will not work any longer. Not only the US but even China wants Pakistan to mend its ways. This narrative has turned Cyril, a villain for Pakistani State, a hero in the eyes of civil society of this torn nation.
In this perplexed state of Pakistan, there is an underlying lesson for certain frustrated ‘freedom of speech’ proponents. Their trolling in social media cannot be equated with direct action by the State or terrorists groups in ‘one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists’. The greatest enemy is terrorism. You can criticise the government or State for promoting terrorism and not for curbing it, the people will treat you as hero. If you make a hero out of terrorist, for your petty interests, isolation at the hands of your own people is inevitable.
@PrafullaKetkar
