Why does surrender come so easy to the civilians? Why would a civilian government manifestly undermine itself, civilians and democratic structures in response to Peshawar? The easy answer is that the army is a bully. The boys are stronger. They’ve got guns, they’ve got the ISI and they know everyone’s secrets. So, when the boys speak, people listen. There’s no need for them to pound tables or knock heads together. If they want military courts, military courts are what they’ll get. Much of that is true. But it doesn’t fully explain the internal predominance. For that you have to look at the approach too. Essentially, the civilians are about the individual, the boys about the institution. The legislative arena epitomises the difference. The boys can’t legislate themselves and yet they manage to get their preferred legislation done better and more efficiently than the civilians. Hence all this Protection of Pakistan ugliness and Article 245 silliness and, now, military courts horror show. How? Because they do their homework. Because they’ve thought through the possible objections and deflections and they come prepared. And because, where necessary, they are prepared to be patient. They also work as a team. With the JAG branch, ISI analysts and military leadership on one side, the little talent in the law ministry and parliament never really stands a chance.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 17:56:05 +0000
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