President Ten PercentZardari`s
... sticky-fingered husband of the late Benazir Bhutto ...
message wasn`t a run-of-the-mill Dec 25 statement; it showed in unmistakable terms that the government-army row persists and that the PPP-led regime still feels apprehensive of extra-constitutional interference in statecraft. Asking the nation to pledge that it will not allow a change through "force and intimidation", the president said the Quaid believed in the ballot, not the bullet. What made the president issue this alarmist statement will no doubt serve to provide grist to the rumour
mills and prolong that feeling of uncertainty which gripped the nation last week after the prime minister spoke twice in a day of conspiracies against the elected government and reaffirmed that the armed forces were responsible to par-liament. A subsequent, though guarded, statement by the army chief seemed to have defused the crisis.Against this background, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan`s stance, in which he attacked the government, especially the prime minister, and said people would resist any attempt to sack the army and ISI chiefs is indeed astonishing. As leader of the opposition, Chaudhry Nisar is expected to support and strengthen democracy by categorically upholding the principle of civilian supremacy. His remarks, possibly in reaction to rumours, on Saturday constituted a political somersault and will be music to the ears of those keen on perpetuating the armed forces` interference in the civilian domain. Chaudhry Nisar forgot or perhaps chose to ignore Mr Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
`s own decision as prime minister to sack two army chiefs. There is no doubt Nawaz Sharif acted constitutionally. As leader of the opposition Chaudhry Nisar has every right to flay the government, but he should know where and when to discharge his fusillade. Sensitive issues need responsible handling and ought to be sorted out in talks with the government instead of being welcomed as a godsend for government-bashing.