On April 23, 2023, Shahid Khan Abbasi, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, warned that the current political and economic crisis is enough to attract a military takeover of the country.
He said that the army intervened in the past in much less severe circumstances and urged the top stakeholders to initiate a dialogue, reported Dawn.
The former Pakistani PM is also a senior leader in the Pakistan Muslim Nawaz (PML-N).
“Martial Law always remained a possibility if the system failed or when there was a conflict between the institutions and the political leadership could not chart a way forward,” he said.
Pakistan has been hit by severe economic and is grappling with high external debt, a weakened currency and soaring inflation. The foreign exchange reserve has plummeted to USD 4 billion, as stated by the central bank last week.
The country is in talks with the IMF (International Monetary Fund) for a much-needed bailout but is struggling for the same. The USD 1.1 billion package is aimed at the country from becoming bankrupt.
The funds are a part of the USD 6.5 million bailout package the IMF approved in 2019, which analysts say is critical if Pakistan is to avoid defaulting on external debt obligations.
Moreover, the relations with the judiciary and ruling coalition have soured over since the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz-led Government has been pushing for the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) bill to dilute the powers of Chief Justice Umar Atal Bandial to take suo motu actions and from a panel of judges for hearing the case.
On April 20, 2023, the current president of Pakistan, Arif Alvi, returned a bill seeking to curb the powers of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to parliament a second time, saying that the matter was now subjudicised.
“Pakistan has had many long periods of martial law in very similar situations”, he was quoted by The Dawn as saying.
“In fact, I would say that Pakistan has never witnessed a more severe economic and political situation before. In much more severe circumstances, the military has taken over,” he said.
The Pakistan Army has ruled the coup-prone country for over half of its 75-plus years and has hitherto wielded considerable power in security and foreign policy matters.
Abbasi warned of anarchy if the friction within the society and institutions became too deep, adding that such a situation could also see the powerful Army step in.
“It has happened in many countries. When the political and constitutional system fails, extra-constitutional measures take place,” the report quoted him as saying.
The PMLN leader, however, hoped that the military was not considering imposing martial law.
“I do not think that they are considering that, but when they are left with no choice, the famous old speeches of Mere Aziz Hamwatano’ (a phrase synonymous with military takeovers) are heard,” he added.
