Monitor on Civil-Military Relations in Pakistan | July 2017

This monitor is meant to identify key developments during the month on
Civil Military Relations in Pakistan with selected high-profile
international developments included occasionally.
  In this Issue: 1. International Perspectives on ouster of Pakistan
Premier 2. Optics of the Special Meeting of the Apex Committee
Sindh 3. Launch of Operation Khyber IV 4. DG ISPR praises JIT Members from ISI and MI 5. 202nd Corps Commander Conference 6. Mr. Javed Hashmi’s Diatribe Against Generals and
Judges 7. Meeting of the National Security Committee 8. COAS Bajwa’s call for "Open Debate on CPEC" 9. ‘Baluchistan’ is spelled as ‘Balochistan’
in the Constitution 10. Continuing Pursuit of Clarity by Public Representatives
over Gen. Retd. Raheel Sharif’s Appointment 11. COAS Bajwa’s meeting with International Football
Players 12. Premier COAS Interactions 13. PILDAT Study Visit to Indonesia 14. Resignation of the French Chief of Staff following
Disagreement with French President 15. Martial Law in Philippines Extended by the Congress 16. Thai Junta in Thailand failed to Achieve Reconciliation:
Poll 17. First Anniversary of the Failed Coup in Turkey
18. Arrests of Journalists in Myanmar by the Military Raise Concerns
about Press Freedom

International Perspectives
on ouster of Pakistan Premier

Pakistan’s Supreme Court disqualifying Mr. Nawaz Sharif for
being ‘not honest’ under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution has raised myriad
questions and concerns that require Pakistan’s polity to immediately and thoroughly
address.

While the Supreme Court judgment has evoked mixed reactions
at home, the outside world seems to have used a singular lens to view and interpret
the developments. That lens is that of civil-military relations and its impact
on consolidation of democracy in Pakistan.

The international media comments range from opinions that
‘ corruption is not the main reason for Mr. Sharif’s predicament‘ but
instead it is ‘ crossing the Military by pursuing conciliatory policies
towards India as well as Afghanistan and by reportedly demanding that Inter-Services
Intelligence end its use of militant groups as tools of foreign policy
.’ [1] Comments also allege that
the premier’s ouster has resulted through Pakistan’s Supreme Court ‘collaborating
with the Pakistan Army against civilian rulers.’ [2]

According to international media, lopsided civil-military
relations in Pakistan have been at the heart of woes of democratic order in
the country: ‘ civilian Governments have always been hamstrung by the machinations
of Pakistan’s security forces, with their obsession over India, their aggressive
investment in nuclear weapons and their double-dealing in Afghanistan
.’ [3] Media analyses also go
on to raise concerns on consolidation of democracy in Pakistan after disqualification
of Mr. Nawaz Sharif saying that the verdict by the Supreme Court ‘weakens
the country’s tenuous democracy and allows its all-powerful army to grab power
without having to formally seize it .’[4]

The Washington Post in its editorial mainly saw Mr. Sharif’s
ouster through lens of accountability and welcomed it by calling it a ‘glimmer
of hope for accountability and rule of law in a nation that could use much more
of it. ‘[5] However it maintained
that ‘Pakistan’s military and its intelligence service also will remain
powerful forces behind the scenes of the Muslim-majority nation, a nuclear weapons
state.’ [6]

Optics
of the Special Meeting of the Apex Committee Sindh

Special meeting of the Apex Committee Sindh that took place on July 04,
2017

A special meeting of the Apex Committee Sindh took place on
July 04, 2017 at the Headquarters of Karachi Corps, which was attended by Chief
Minister Sindh Mr. Murad Ali Shah, MPA alongside the Chief of Army Staff General
Qamar Jawed Bajwa and other members of the committee.

According to the press release issued by the Inter Services
Public Relations (ISPR), the Chief of Army Staff ‘ directed all stakeholders
to further improve synergy, reaction capability of LEAs, decision-making process
and to hold public office holders accountable .’[7]
 General Bajwa also suggested improvements in the internal functioning
of the Sindh Police to ‘ include induction on merit, availability of young
trained leadership and strengthening of command .’[8]

The picture released depicts a seating arrangement
of the Apex Committee meeting with COAS at the head of the table normally assumed
by the person presiding over the meeting. Apparently this is a departure from
the past practice in which the Chief Minister – the civilian-elected chief executive
of the province – and the Army Chief sit on opposites side of the table, facing
each other. Whether these optics are an isolated incident or represent
a substantive shift in the position of the military is hard to tell. However,
the optics must follow the constitutional position that role of the Military
is to work in aid of civil power.

Reportedly, the constitution of Apex Committees after the
National Action Plan came about as a way to improve coordination between the
Provincial Governments and the Law Enforcement Agencies. However, their constitution
has apparently taken place without any formal official notifications. [9]
The desired coordination can best take place when the civilian elected governments
are fully in charge and seen to be so. On their part, the Provincial Assemblies
need to exercise oversight on the role of these Apex Committees.

Comparison: Past Pictures of Special Meetings
of the Apex Committee

Special meeting of the Apex Committee Sindh on May 14, 2015 held at Headquarters
Karachi Corps [10]

Special meeting of the Apex Committee Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on February 9,
2016[11]

Special meeting of the Apex Committee Punjab on January 03, 2017 [12]

Launch
of Operation Khyber IV

Director General ISPR Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor addressing a press conference
on July 16, 2017

On July 16, 2017, in a press conference addressed by DG ISPR
Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor, Pakistan Army announced the launch of Operation Khyber
IV under Operation Radd-ul-Fassad. [13]The
Operation was announced to be carried out in the Rajgal Valley of the Khyber
Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The operation would be the
‘ Army’s second operation in Rajgal. In August 2016, a similar operation
was conducted and air strikes on militant targets continued in the year
.’[14]

Following the announcement of the launch of the Operation,
the spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Defence claimed that ‘ Pakistan
had not carried out any coordination while launching the military operation
in the Rajgal Valley despite having an understanding about having coordinated
operations on both sides of the Durand Line .’[15]

In an ISPR press release on July 19, 2017, the Afghan Ministry
of Defence Response to Operation Khyber IV was termed ‘unwarranted.’
The ISPR press release also went on to say that the Afghan Ministry of Defence’s
response ran ‘ counter to Pakistan Army’s efforts for better Pak-Afghan
coordination and cooperation .’[16]

DG
ISPR praises JIT Members from ISI and MI

While answering questions posed to him on the Panama Paper’s
Case during his press conference announcing the launch of Operation Khyber IV,
DG ISPR Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor said that ‘ Pakistan Army is not directly
linked with the issue as the JIT was formed by the Supreme Court and the two
members from the MI and ISI worked under Supreme Court .’[17] 
However, Maj. Gen. Ghafoor went on to praise the role of the ISI and MI representatives
in the JIT, adding that they worked ‘diligently and honestly.’ [18]

202^nd
Corps Commander Conference

The 202^nd Corps Commander conference that took place on July
10, 2017

The 202^nd Corps Commander conference took place
on July 10, 2017, the same day when the final JIT Report, under the Panama Papers
Case, was submitted to the Supreme Court. In the ISPR press release issued after
the conference, the forum ‘ reiterated to continue supporting and enabling
national efforts to play positive role in line with Pakistan’s national interests
.’[19]

Mr.
Javed Hashmi’s Diatribe Against Generals and Judges

Mr. Javed Hashmi addressing a press conference on July 12, 2017

Mr. Javed Hashmi, a former federal minister and a former leader
of both PML-N as well as the PTI, in a press conference on July 12, 2017 criticized
the Panama Paper’s investigation as ‘a ploy to oust Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif.’ [20] He went on
to say that ‘ politicians have always sacrificed for the country but there
has been no one who can try generals and judges who commit wrongdoings
.’[21]

Mr. Hashmi expressed his exasperation at the lack of accountability
of former military generals who had violated the constitution. He was also critical
of the Supreme Court’s history as according to him ‘it did nothing when
the Constitution was trampled in the past‘ [22]
while referring to its role in legitimizing military coups.

It may be noted that Mr. Hashmi made somewhat similar remarks
after disassociating himself from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf when he said
that the 2014 PTI sit-in was ‘ a scripted plan to overthrow the Government,
using violent protests as a pretext .’[23]Later,
speaking about the same sit-in on December 30, 2016, Mr. Hashmi alleged that
Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan wanted to bring a ‘judicial
martial law.’ [24]

Meeting
of the National Security Committee

On July 07, 2017, a month after the latest
National Security Committee meeting, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired the
9^th meeting of the National Security Committee since its formation
in 2013.

The forum expressed its support for ‘an Afghan led and
Afghan owned peace process‘ [25]
while also saying that ‘ simultaneous efforts by the Afghan government
for restoring effective control on its territory is required .’[26]

It is a welcome development that the National Security Committee
is meeting more regularly since May 2017 maintaining a monthly periodicity.

Table 1: Meetings of the National Security Committee

Table 2: Frequency of National Security Committee
Meetings Each Year

COAS
Bajwa’s call for “Open Debate on CPEC”

Picture of the CPEC Logistics Forum held on July 12, 2017

The National Logistics Cell, an organization
that comes under the Ministry of Planning and Development but has as its head
a serving Lieutenant General, organized a seminar titled CPEC Logistics
Forum on July 12, 2017. Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Jawed Bajwa,
who joined the Forum as the Key Note Speaker, expressed a desire for an open
debate on China Pakistan Economic Corridor in order to ‘help formulate the
best long term economic policies for Pakistan.’ [27]
He also said that for CPEC to be beneficial to Pakistan, ‘ while Army would
provide security to the project, the other National institutes will have to
come forward and play their respective roles .’[28]

With many All Party Conferences held on the project that have
also resulted in formation of a Special Parliamentary Committee on CPEC in September
2015 [29] as well as an 11-member
Steering Committee including 4 Chief Ministers [30],
the project has, indeed, continued to see very vibrant and open debate on the
issue across all stakeholders belonging to different political and geographical
perspectives since 2015. In addition, the project also receives probing print
and electronic media analyses, as should be the case in a vibrant democracy.
Given that the COAS has given the call for open debate on CPEC at this stage
seems to suggest to national and international audience as if Pakistan has signed
on the project without required internal debate. If this is not the intent of
his comment, it must be clarified.

The other remark by the COAS made at the Forum that ‘
while Army would provide security to the project, the other National institutes
will have to come forward and play their respective roles ‘ [31]
seems to represent the continuing trend of painting Pakistan’s vital interest
issues in the light of “Us & Them.”

As a developing country home to the world’s 6^th
largest population, Pakistan does not have a shortage of challenges in nearly
every sphere. One can hardly argue that the “Us & Them” narrative depicting
multiple power centres within the country is helpful in addressing these challenges.
Instead of promotion and strengthening of a dangerous perception that Pakistan’s
institutions are at loggerheads with each other, there is no more critical time
than today that institutions come forward and urgently address this critical
challenge.

‘Baluchistan’
is spelled as ‘Balochistan’ in the Constitution

Chief of Army Staff Qamar Jawed Bajwa at the Quetta Garrison on July 14,
2017

According to a press release issued after the COAS’s visit
to the Quetta Garrison on July 14, 2017, General Bajwa, in the context of the
security situation in Balochistan, ‘ hailed efforts in socio-economic domain
and resultant considerable willing surrender of fararies. He said that Baluchistan
[sic] is his prime focus and prosperity of people of Baluchistan [sic] at par
with other provinces is the main objective .’[32]

The ISPR in its press releases off late has been using the
incorrect spellings of Balochistan. Given that Article 1 of the Constitution
[33] was specifically amended
under 18^th Amendment to the Constitution to change the spellings
of the name of the province from “Baluchistan” to “Balochistan,” the official
public relations body representing the 3 branches of the Pakistan Military would
do well to use correct and official spellings of the province.

Continuing
Pursuit of Clarity by Public Representatives over Gen. (Retd.) Raheel Sharif’s
Appointment

Former Advisor to the former Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs,
Mr. Sartaj Aziz, was unable to provide clarity to the Senate on the subject
of Gen. Retd. Raheel Sharif’s appointment as head of the Islamic Military Coalition
to Fight Terrorism (IMCFT). Responding to questions after his statement in the
Senate on July 18, 2017, Mr. Aziz maintained his earlier position that Gen.
(Retd.) Sharif’s appointment would bring balance to the prevailing situation
while not mentioning when the Terms of Reference for the IMCFT would be decided.[34]
However, Mr. Aziz did tell the House that as far as he was aware, ‘ there
are no troops commanded by him (Gen. Retd. Sharif) and he is not wearing any
uniform .’[35]

Previously, at an in-camera briefing session to the Senate
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs on June 21, 2017, Mr. Aziz had reportedly
shared that Gen. (Retd.) Raheel Sharif cannot be called back to Pakistan because
he had joined the Islamic Military Coalition to Fight Terrorism in his personal
capacity.[36]

This time, however, Mr. Aziz, answering a question by the
Chairman of the Senate, Senator Raza Rabbani about the Terms of Reference of
IMCFT, said that ‘ whatever terms of reference are agreed as far as he
(Gen. Retd. Sharif) is concerned, he will follow the policy decisions that the
Government makes in consultation with the Parliament and that by itself does
not indicate any change .’[37]

These remarks indicate at the very least the existence of
some form of confusion within the Government on the role of Gen. Retd. Sharif
in the IMCFT.

COAS
Bajwa’s meeting with International Football Players

Chief of Army Staff General Bajwa with Ronaldinho and other international
football players on July 08, 2017

On July 08, 2017, Chief of Army Staff General Bajwa met international
football star Ronaldinho and other international football players visiting Pakistan
to play two exhibition matches in a tour organized by the Leisure League in
collaboration with the Pakistan Army [38]
thanking them and telling them that ‘Pakistan is a peace and sports loving
country.’ [39]

Leisure League is considered to be the largest international
organizer of football events and it has recently expanded its activities in
Pakistan. Reportedly, the Punjab Government was first asked by Leisure League
to provide security for the event, but it refused in the light of precarious
security concerns. Afterwards, the Pakistan Army was contacted to provide security
for the event.

Interestingly, the Punjab government had tasked security agencies
to look into the threat perception for the high-profile event. It refused to
provide security for the match in the light of the suggestion by the security
and intelligence agencies’ report, which said that it would be risky to hold
a large-scale match at Qaddafi Stadium. [40]

Premier
COAS Interactions

The then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff
Qamar Jawed Bajwa met once during the month and that too during the National
Security Committee meeting on July 07, 2017.

The meeting was attended by the then Minister for Defence,
Khawaja Muhammad Asif, MNA, the then Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Ishaq
Dar, the then Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, MNA, the then Adviser
to PM on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa,
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief
Marshal Sohail Aman, National Security Advisor Lt. Gen (Retd.) Nasser Khan Janjua,
Director General ISI, Lt. Gen. Naveed Mukhtar and senior civil and military
officials. [41]

PILDAT
Study Visit to Indonesia

Pakistan Delegation with the Honourable Vice President of Indonesia, H.
E. Mr. Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta on July 19, 2017

PILDAT organized and conducted a Study Visit to Indonesia
from July 17-20, 2017. As Pakistan and Indonesia share many common traits, including
the journey towards democratic consolidation from military rule, the purpose
of the study visit was to seek a deeper understanding of democratic consolidation
in Indonesia just as Pakistan has begun its own longest uninterrupted spell
of democratic governance in 2017. 

The Pakistan delegation was led by Senator Mushahid
Hussain Sayed, Chairperson, Senate Standing Committee on Defence, while
the members included Syed Naveed Qamar, MNA Chairperson, National
Assembly Standing Committee on Railways and former Defence Minister;  Senator
Muhammad Javed Abbasi, Chairperson, Senate Standing Committee on Law
and Justice; Oversight Committee on Eradication of Corruption from Federal Government
Departments;  Senator Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Abdul Qayyum, Chairperson,
Senate Standing Committee on Defence Production;  Lt. Gen. (Retd.)
Moinuddin Haider, Former Federal Minister for Interior; Former Governor
Sindh Province;  Syed Ali Zafar, Senior Advocate Supreme
Court of Pakistan; Former President Supreme Court Bar Association; Ms.
Aasiya Riaz, Joint Director PILDAT and  Ms. Amna Kausar,
Projects Manager PILDAT. 

In a multi-dimensional study visit, the delegates engaged
in a variety of discussions, interactions and exchange of views in Indonesia.
The delegation received interactive briefings on the state of democratic consolidation
of Indonesia by Mr. Jakob Tobing, one of the most
prominent architects of the new democratic Indonesia who played an instrumental
role in Indonesia’s transition from the authoritarian rule to democracy in 1998;
Dr. Ali Wibisono, Faculty of University
of Indonesia and Mr. Meidyatama
(Demas), President of the Antara News Agency, while in Jakarta.
Pakistan delegation also visited the Centre for Strategic Studies and International
Studies (CSIS) where  Mr. Jusuf Wanandi, Vice
Chair CSIS and CSIS experts gave an insightful presentation on Indonesian journey
towards democratic consolidation. The delegation also visited the  Habibie
Centre, a leading think tank that works on democracy and human rights
in Indonesia, where it received a briefing on state of democracy in Indonesia.

In meeting with members of Commission-1
 of the House of Representatives (DPR), members of the commission
briefed the delegates on the role of oversight of defence, foreign affairs and
information. 

In addition to interactive sessions, the Pakistan delegation
also interacted with Indonesian Government representatives and opposition leaders.
The Pakistan delegation called on the Defence Minister of Indonesia, Gen.
(Retd.) Ryamizard Ryacudu  who discussed
with the delegates Indonesia’s policies to combat terrorism. In a conversation
with Dr. Fadhli Zon, Vice Speaker of
the House of Representatives (Indonesian Parliament), the Pakistan delegates
were briefed on key features of the Parliament, election process and constituency
politics in Indonesia.

General (Retd.) Wiranto , Coordinating Minister
for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, briefed the Pakistan delegation on
functions of the Coordinating Ministry especially in coordination and synchronization
of the formulation, determination and implementation of policies related to
issues of politics, law and security in Indonesia. 

Pakistan delegation on Study Visit to Indonesia also called
on the Honourable Vice President of Indonesia, H.E Mr. Muhammad
Jusuf Kalla at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. The Honourable
Vice President highlighted the strengths of relations between Indonesia and
Pakistan and the role the two countries can play in addressing challenges faced
by the Muslim Countries. 

In a grand finale to the Study Visit, Pakistan delegation
was warmly received with a Guard of Honour and band playing national anthems
of Indonesia and Pakistan at the Gerindra party headquarters by the chairman
Gerindra Party Mr. Prabowo Subianto alongside his
party office bearers.

A full report on the Study Visit is under preparation and
will be released soon by PILDAT.

Ahead of PILDAT Study Visit to Indonesia, PILDAT commissioned
a paper to reflect latest developments in the context of civil-military
relations in Indonesia. Authored by Dr. Ali Abdullah Wibisono,
the paper carries a most recent account of development of Civil-Military Relations
in Indonesia.

International Developments Affecting
Civil Military Relations Around the World

Resignation
of the French Chief of Staff following Disagreement with French President

President Emmanuel Macron (left) and French Chief of Staff General Pierre
de Villiers (right) during the Bastille Day parade

The Military Chief of France General Pierre de Villiers resigned
on July 19, 2017 following a public disagreement with President of France Emmanuel
Macron.[42] The disagreement
was over an upcoming surprise 850 million Euros budget cut for the French
military, with the budget cut revealed by a Government Minister in a newspaper
interview. [43]

Following a strongly worded statement by General Pierre de
Villiers in front of a closed parliamentary committee for the proposed budget
cut, President Macron, at the annual military garden party, reminded the Army
officers that he ‘is the boss.’ [44]

Martial
Law in Philippines Extended by the Congress

President Rodrigo Duterte, centre, examining seized weaponry from Islamist
militants during a visit to a military camp in Marawi City in the southern Philippines,
on July 22, 2017. [45]

The Philippine Congress extended the martial law imposed by
the President of Philippines, Mr. Rodrigo Duterte, on May 23, 2017 in the island
of Mindano on July 22, 2017 for five more months. [46]
In the absence of extension by the Congress, Mr. Duterte’s proclamation of martial
law was going to expire on the evening of July 22, 2017.

The reported reason for the extension of martial law in the
Southern region of Philippines is to contain the terrorist threat in the area,
particularly in the southern city of Marawi that is under siege by the militants.
[47] Certain sections in Philippines
consider the martial law unnecessary and view it as Mr. Duterte’s attempt to
‘ use the Marawi crisis as an excuse to impose authoritarian rule in the
Philippines .’[48]

Thai
Junta in Thailand Failed to Achieve Reconciliation: Poll

According to a survey conducted by Suan Dunsit Poll that was
released on July 15, 2017, more than 70% of the Thai respondents believed that
even after three years of attempting to build unity in Thailand, the military-installed
regime has failed to bring about reconciliation. ‘Disharmony in politics’ was
the top-most concern of the 1278 people interviewed for the survey, followed
by ‘behaviour of politicians’. Two-thirds of the people believed that politicians
often abused their power for their own benefit and set a bad example due to
their verbal abuse. 57% people were also afraid that the election would be further
postponed.

The poll also asked the people what they wanted to see in
Thai politics, and the first of the top five responses was harmony, followed
by healthy economy, and corruption free politics. The fourth thing people wanted
to see was democracy and inclusive politics. [49]

As a way of background to the reconciliation which the poll
found missing, under the existing military rule in Thailand, [50]
the Thai Junta had set up a reconciliation panel in January 2017 in order to
unite different divisive factions in the country. The panel consisted of both
army generals, and representatives of two of the biggest political parties in
Thailand.[51] This reconciliation
process was meant to be a precursor to a general election, which has been postponed
multiple times since 2014. The reconciliation committee, under the leadership
of General Prayut Chan-o-cha, head of the Thai Military Junta and Prime Minister
of Thailand, approved what is termed as a ‘reconciliation social contract.’
The contract lists ten points, such as: “Differences of opinions should be accepted
and political institutions strengthened so they lead to transparent, clean and
fair elections.” Politicians termed the contract as window dressing. [52] 

First
Anniversary of the Failed Coup in Turkey

One year has passed since an attempted
coup by factions in the Turkish military was thwarted within hours by a great
public outpour in support of Tayyip Erdogan. July 15 was marked as a national
holiday of “democracy and unity” in Turkey while a people’s parade was also
arranged. [53]

The failed coup attempt has seen a continuing imposition of
emergency and a ‘purge’ of the army and bureaucracy in Turkey. Turkish President
Erdogan, in a recent speech has indicated that ” there can be no question
of lifting emergency rule with all this happening .”[54]

The international community continues to criticize President
Erdogan to have used the coup attempt as an excuse to crush dissent in the country.
Since the coup, reportedly 150,000 people have been sacked or suspended from
the army and civil services and  50,000 have been detained for alleged
links to the coup. [55]

Arrests
of Journalists in Myanmar by the Military raise Concerns about Press Freedom

The detention of three journalists by the
Myanmar Military on June 29, 2017 has raised concerns in certain quarters in
Myanmar over the gains made in press freedom in the recent past. [56]
The case of the journalists, who are being charged under unlawful association,
is being handled by the military while some in Myanmar believe that it should
be the Ministry of Home Affairs that should pursue their case. [57]

Myanmar was under Military rule from 1962 to 2011 after which
a ‘nominally civilian elected Government’ was handed rule. [58]However,
even under the current Government elected in 2015 and led by Aung San Suu Kyi
of the National League for Democracy, the Myanmar military is perceived to ‘
retain considerable amount of power in the Government and Parliament
.’[59]