Interventions Dr Farrukh Saleem I pray that our politicians do not push ‘dangerous events to the brink of disaster’. And I pray that our politicians resolve their political disputes without the military’s intervention. The long marches have so far achieved two things. One, diverted the PML-N’s focus from undermining the army to requesting the army for assistance. Two, the army is now the centre of the political chessboard. History has Ayub’s abrogation model, Zia’s partial suspension model, Musharraf’s constitution-in-abeyance model, the Kakar Model, the Kayani Model and Moeen Uddin’s Model. Field Marshal Ayub Khan’s intervention: The constitution was abrogated. The popular reaction to the intervention was favourable and the general became both the head of state and head of government. The declared motive was to reform and end corruption. The cabinet comprised technocrats, diplomats and military officers. Under the Elected Bodies Disqualification Ordinance (EBDO), truckloads of politicians were disqualified for a period of eight years. Over 11 years, the government managed to achieve a very respectable GDP growth rate of close to seven percent. The cabinet also managed to deliver land reforms and local governance. Gen Ziaul Haq’s intervention: The general issued the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) that partially suspended the constitution. Ziaul Haq’s declared motive was to ‘end political crisis and social unrest’. Over 11 years, the average rate of economic growth of over seven percent continues to be the record-high of all Pakistani governments. The popular reaction to Ziaul Haq’s intervention was favourable but by the time Zia’s VVIP flight crashed the Kalashnikov culture had taken deep roots. Gen Waheed Kakar’s intervention: In 1993, the general known as the ‘soldier of the soil without the Sandhurst badge’ was forced to intervene. Twenty one years ago, President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and PM Nawaz Sharif had created a political-constitutional deadlock to which the constitution had no solution. Under the Kakar Model, both the president and the prime minister were forced by General Kakar to resign. Gen Ashfaq Kayani’s intervention: In 2009, President Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, between the two of them, had created a political-constitutional deadlock. President Zardari had refused to reinstate the chief justice and Nawaz Sharif was leading a long march to Islamabad. The constitution had no definitive solution to the dangerous political-constitutional logjam. General Kayani, who had pulled out all military officers from civilian departments, decided to intervene. Five years ago, President Zardari had refused to reinstate the chief justice and Nawaz Sharif was leading a long march to Islamabad. Five years ago, President Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, between the two of them, had created a political-constitutional crisis to which the constitution had no solution. Under the Kayani Model, President Zardari was forced to accept the long marchers demand. Gen Moeen Uddin Ahmed’s intervention: In 2007, General Moeen Uddin Ahmed, Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army, was forced to intervene. Seven years ago, Sheikh Hasina Wajed and Begum Khaleda Zia, between the two of them had created a political-constitutional deadlock to which the constitution of Bangladesh had no solution. General Moeen declared emergency and installed a caretaker government (CTG). The CTG initiated the most vigorous anti-graft campaign in Bangladesh’s history.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 04:37:59 +0000
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