OPINION: Pak Army On Multi-Pronged Task

Knowing its power "under check and balance" status, the Pakistan Army semms to have formulated a multi-pronged strategy to get back its prominence in the country's political system. The misfortune of Pakistan is that not a single institution is left which is not entangled in politics, whether the judiciary, the presidency and mainly the Army.

Imran Khan, previous Prime Minister and now the Leader of Opposition as the chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, was driven to direct confrontation with his Army patrons in April 2022, when the Army turned their backs on him and engineered to oust him from power. Khan's agenda was to establish civilian control over the Army which was against the Army doctrines. Sensing no alternatives, the Generals patronaged Khan's political adversaries, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a 13-party coalition headed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which the military had ousted in 2017.

Firstly, the military slyly balanced its position by supporting the PDM to torpedo Khan politically on one side while, on the other hand, maneuvered to launch Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) headed by Jahangir Khan Tareen on 8 June 2023. Pakistani businessman and politician Tareen began his political career in 2002. After resigning from the National Assembly in November 2011, he joined PTI with several associates, saying that his vision was similar to PTI's. He was elected to the National Assembly in 2002 on the ticket of PML's Quaid-e-Azam group (PML-Q).

After the government held Imran Khan responsible for the riots that broke out across the country following his arrest in a graft case on May 9, several PTI leaders parted ways with him. Khan says his party workers and leaders were intimidated and forced to quit his party. Nearly 100 PTI members of the national and provincial assemblies joined the new party, expressing confidence in Tareen's leadership.

Those who joined the party include former Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, former ministers Ali Zaidi and Amir Kayani, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Mahmood Molvi, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Murad Raas and Jai Parkash.

Meanwhile, G.G. Jamal from erstwhile Fata, Ajmal Parvez, Nauman Langrial from Punjab and Naurez Shakoor also joined the new party. Former adviser to Punjab Chief Minister for Awqaf and Religious Affairs, Syed Rafakat Ali Gillani, also joined Tareen's party. Former MPA from Chishtian, Mumtaz Mehrvi, also announced joining IPP. Similarly, former MPA from Sahiwal, Mehr Irshad Kathia, Mian Usman Ashraf from Nankana Sahib and Major (retd.) Khurram Rokhiri from Mianwali decided to join the new party.

Despite unfavorable political and establishment situations, Khan has intensified his rhetorical attacks, openly criticising the military and the government for practicing "State terrorism" and denouncing it for imposing "unannounced martial law." He has filed legal petitions to the Supreme Court and banks on the Chief Justice's support. But the Chief Justice of Pakistan Supreme Court Bandial will show less sympathy towards Imran Khan, obviously for political and administrative reasons.

The second task of the Army is intended to continue to pull strings from behind the scene. For the past 15 years, the Army has remained out of direct responsibility for Pakistan's governance and ownership of its many serious domestic challenges. The Army started to implement its plan's agenda from its home when former Corps Commander Lahore Lt. Gen. Salman Fayyaz Ghani was sacked. Investigations revealed that the attacks were carried out with the help of accomplices from within the Army, who provided navigation, targeting assists, pin locations and details of entry and exit - with the alleged mastermind being General Faiz Hamid. The Army released a statement on June 7 to tighten the "noose of law" around "planners and masterminds" of the protests on May 9 in which military structures were attacked.

The Army's main agenda under the multi-pronged strategy is to muzzle the media. Islamabad Police booked journalists Shaheen Sehbai and Wajahat Saeed Khan as well as Army-officer-turned-Youtuber Adil Raja and anchorperson Syed Haider Raza Mehdi for "abetting mutiny" and inciting people to attack military installations across the country on May 9 -- the day violent protests erupted following Imran Khan's arrest. During the protests, military installations -- including the Lahore Corps Commander's residence -- and State properties were damaged across Pakistan.

According to the FIR, social media was responsible, which under a planned conspiracy and mutual agreement were aiding anti-State agencies, defaming the military and attempting to create mutiny in the Army. It decided to bring the arsonists, who attacked the civil and military installations to justice, through trial under relevant laws, including the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secrets Act.

The military had termed May 9 incident as a "dark chapter" in the country's history and resolved to bring to justice all those involved in the vandalism. It is pertinent to mention that according to the World Justice Project's Rule of Law Index 2022 report, Pakistan ranks 129 out of 140. This position on the global index is a scale to measure the rule of law in our country. Interestingly, even in South Asia, Pakistan ranks 5th out of six countries.

Meanwhile, following the registration of cases against several journalists and anchorpersons for their alleged involvement in the May 9 riots, the United States has said that journalists in Pakistan should be allowed to cover the ongoing events and do their work freely. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, in Washington, said: "I would say that we generally urge all governments to respect the role of journalists and media."

(R C Ganjoo is a senior journalist and columnist having more than 30 years experience of covering issues concerning national security, particularly Kashmir. He has worked with several prominent media groups and his articles have been published in many national and international publications.)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.