Chain of Command

By now, after years of rigorous inculcation, Pakistanis understand pretty well that civilians are incompetent, unpatriotic, corrupt and therefore have to be kept at an arm’s length. But, what they are totally unable to decipher is Musharraf’s reluctance to handover command of the army to any of his [uniformed] subordinates – supposedly a routine institutional matter. After all, no one is asking him to assign the coveted post of the COAS to Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Qazi Hussian Ahmad, Asif Zardari or Javed Hashmi.

Does this unwillingness mean that not even a single general -- we have MashAllah a plenty of them – is capable, honest, sincere and shrewd enough to handle the affairs of the army? To ordinary mortals on the street, it is not only perplexing but also akin to a gross insult of the brimming patriotism and multi-faceted expertise of our a dozen a dime generals that none of them has been deemed trustworthy to lead the army for last seven years.

Moreover, for taking the political aspects of “the unity of command” in account, one has got to ask a very disturbing question: if even a recently retired army chief -- the one Musharraf is bound to become on December 31st by the latest, as the infamous 17th Amendment entails -- cannot take allegiance of his fauji colleagues as granted, then what control a purely civilian would ever have on such heavily armed goons, regardless of the heaviness of mandate he/she may come with?

Not only that, if Musharraf, despite sitting atop supra-constitutional NSC and armed with a long range of presidential powers including appointing and sacking of military chiefs as well as senior judges feels insecure and is afraid of his own juniors, then what manoeuvrability a hapless civilian is left with. Obviously, there are some very serious fundamental flaws in the chain of command, training and values of our army.

This bizarre wardi drama should make it clear to all and sundry that the only way out for us as a nation is to promote a culture where loyalty of the every single member of the armed force, judiciary and the civil society is reserved only and only for the Constitution, like everywhere in the civilized world. The rule of law must supplant law of jungle; ballot power must supersede firepower. Any other criterion of patriotism and/or supreme nation interest is doomed to fail and will invariably boomerang in one way or the other.

Musharraf has quite rightly ridiculed, time and again, while commenting on the possible return of leaders of two major mainstream political parties, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif and ostensibly their pivotal role for the political stability, that no one is indispensable and it is an affront to 140 million Pakistanis to insinuate that there are only two so-called leaders in the country.

Fair enough, but then accordingly: how can Mr Musharraf on his own suppose that his presence around is essential for the country due to a myriad of geo-socio-political reasons? On what grounds has he assumed that he is vital for the country both as a perpetual army chief and a self-appointed president? Can’t a nation of 140 millions produce any Musharraf –compatible soul to command its huge army or lead the country? Musharraf’s steadfast insistence on being at the helm for unknown number of more years hence not only negates his own wise assertions but also is outright absurd.

Rest assured, thanks Almighty I am not at all colour blind. I can give my word of honour that given the chance to elect among NS, BB or for that matter any other politician in the country, and Musharraf I would vote for Musharraf- eyes wide shut. No doubt about it. Please, be very clear, I wrote, “to elect”. Yes, only if I had the liberty and freedom to choose and there was a level playing field for all contestants. No way, if he or anyone else tries to enforce him/herself on us. No backdoor savouring, no self-styled reluctant rescue operations.

There were times when the military had a special aura in the society. Military officers were adored and respected. At present, corps commanders are disdainfully called “crore commanders” and generals in general are considered little more than greedy real-estate wholesalers and characterless manipulators. What a pity, military officers are frowned upon today on a par with police and civil bureaucracy.

Nowadays, thrashing of a police constable – normally the most despised lot -by militarymen after his misbehaviour with a family of in-service general results in deluge of condemnation – of the military. My very non-scientific study in this regard reveals that the police constable episode generated several times more letters to editor, op-ed columns and editorials, chiding the code of conduct of the military than the ones, for instance, condemning the perpetrators of the recent attack on Karachi Corps Commander.

Only a few years back, kidnapping and torture of a serving major by muggers affiliated with MQM unleashed a full-blown military operation in Karachi. Now the generals including the incumbent Chief of the Army Staff, are regularly ambushed in broad daylight and the army is helpless to do something. The social and psychological ramifications of cyclic constitutional mashing and whimsical political operations, and pervasive intrusion into peripheral sectors have started taking its [heavy] toll.

Finally, if democracy is incompatible to our “peculiar” cultural, political and social environment as our uniformed saviours are very fond of enlightening us then why do they crib about the side effects of that Pakistan-specific package? That is: not to let the office holders go home with their honour and life intact. Attempts to liquidate corps commander and squatting army chief are merely “peculiar” features of the societies unsuited for democracy. There shouldn’t be any complaints in that regard either. Take it or leave it.

Sonia Gandhi could easily become the prime minister of India by the virtue of the electoral results. She didn’t. General Musharraf couldn’t be president by any legal paradigm or ethical provision he is occupying the presidency as his father’s property. Then he talks of negative image of Pakistan abroad.

As Musharraf is neither a serving general nor a duly elected president, by any lawful norm, I refuse to address him so. The hapless citizens of the land of pure may have no civilized means to kick him out but they certainly can deny him the much-cherished legitimacy.