Monitor on Civil-Military Relations in Pakistan |November 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. Islamabad Sit-In
2. PSP Chairman Mustafa Kamal says Rangers brokered attempted political
   alliance
3. COAS asks for more Cases for Military Courts
4. Corps Commanders’ Conference
5. Continuing Role of COAS in Foreign Affairs
6. Pakistan Army’s Public Relations Efforts
7. National Security Committee Meeting
8. PM-COAS Interactions
9. Zimbabwe’s President Steps down after 37 years in power
10. Indian Army to build bridges in Mumbai

Islamabad Sit-In

DG Rangers Punjab Major General Azhar Naveed distributing cash amongst protestors
after the sit-in was called off

The manner in which the Faizabad sit-in was ended and the
terms of the agreement signed by the Government with protesters through the
corroboration of the Army – all mark a disappointing watershed in the history
of Pakistan. That the Army, tasked by the Federal Government, facilitated an
agreement that capitulated the State to demands of a mob has all but disastrous
connotations written all over it. Subsequent statements by the leader of the
protest and actions, such as the DG Rangers distributing cash amongst dharna
protesters, have not only raised serious questions about the writ of the Government
and the State but also about the role of the Armed Forces during the protest.

The disturbing facilitation by the Army can be best summed
up using the words of Islamabad High Court Judge, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui,
who termed it “alarming,” that a serving military officer signed [the agreement]
as guarantor (In fact, the exact word in the agreement was bawisatat or
‘through’), and that the COAS and his team were thanked separately in the agreement
for helping reach the agreement. ” Prima facie, [the] role assumed by the
top leadership of army is besides the Constitution and law of land. Armed forces,
being part of the executive, cannot travel beyond its mandate bestowed upon
it by the organic law of the country, i.e., the Constitution .” Chastising
the Army for their role, the Judge said ” Army officers eager to participate
in politics should first return their guns to the State, take retirement and
then join politics .”

The advice by the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa,
to the Prime Minister Abbasi through a telephonic conversation was made public
precisely as the Government carried out an operation on the directives of the
Islamabad High Court on November 25. The COAS – “suggested tohandle
the Islamabad dharna peacefully to avoid violence from
both sides as it is not in national interest” – gave the impression
as if the Army has a role above and beyond the executive of the State and that
it equated both the State, and the protesters holding the State hostage. Similar
advice and the tweet were earlier directed at the elected Government during
the PTI-PAT dharna that held the capital hostage in 2014 by an erstwhile
DG ISPR during the term of another COAS who advised ” all stakeholders
to resolve prevailing impasse through meaningful dialogue in larger national
and public interest .” [1]

According to the reports in the media, the Chief of Army Staff
declined to involve the troops to end the 19 day long sit in at the Faizabad
interchange. In a meeting with Prime Minister, he opposed the Army’s use of
force against its own people since the population’s trust in the institution
of the Army “can’t be compromised for little gains.” [2]

Announcing the end of the dharna in a Press Conference
on November 27, 2017, Mr. Khadim Hussain Rizvi highlighted the role the Chief
of Army Staff played to resolve the issue. He said, “Mohtaram General Qamar
Javed Bajwa Sahab ne apne khasoosi numaiinde hamare pass bheje. Hum ne kaha
kay hum ne hakumat se baat nahin karni. Ye hamari qatil hai. Hamare beesiyon
karkunaan ko unhon ne bilawaja shaheed kiya. Aur mulk kay halaat taizi se kharab
hone ki taraf ja rahe thay tou General Sahib ne zaati dilchaspi li, aur apni
team bheji, kay hum iss main zamin bantey hain. Aap k mutalibaat hum purey karwatey
hain. Unn ki taraf se Mohtaram Major General Faiz Hameed (Director (Internal),
ISI) tashreef laey, aur hamara muahida unn kay sath hua. Zahid Hamid ka istifa
hamarey Shuhada kay khoon ki qeemat nahin hai. Ye tou Khatm-e-Nabuwwat ka jo
masla tha, us ki waja se iss ka istifa aaya… Baqi hum aur bhi mutalibaat
kar sakte thay. Iss waqt hum General Sahab ko jo bhi kehtey, unhon ne maan jana
tha. Lekin logon ney kehna tha kay ye tou hakumat uthane ke liye aye hain. Hum
ne koi aur baat nahin ki hai. Ab jo hamare darmiyaan muahida hua, iss main General
Sahab khud bhi zamin hain.” [Honourable General Qamar Javed Bajwa Sahab
sent his special representatives to us. We said that we do not want to speak
to the Government. They are our murderers. They killed tens of our workers for
no reason. And the situation in the country was deteriorating fast. So, General
Sahab took a personal interest in the situation, and sent his team to us to
be guarantors. They said that they would get our demands accepted. From their
side, Honourable Major General Faiz Hameed (Director (Internal), ISI) came to
us, and we made an agreement with him. Zahid Hamid’s resignation is not the
price of the blood of our martyrs.  His resignation is to resolve the issue
of Khatm-e-Nabuwwat… We could have made further demands. At this time,
General Sahab would have given us anything we would have asked for. But then
people would have said that we came to dismantle the Government, so we did not
talk about anything else. Now the agreement that took place between us, General
Sahab himself is also a guarantor in it.][3]

The agreement brokered by the Army and signed by the Federal
Government, specifically thanks the COAS and his team for their facilitation.

The 6-point agreement brokered with the help of Pakistan Army on November
27, 2017

Not surprisingly, therefore, almost nationwide criticism and
condemnation was offered on the Federal Government signing an agreement that
compromised the writ of the State. The agreement was termed as a complete capitulation
to a mob, with serious questions raised on the role of the Armed Forces on its
facilitation of an agreement that weakened the writ of the Federal Government
and the State.[4]

This dharna has raised very serious questions with
grave implications for the stability of the State. All Pakistanis owe it to
their country to not only ask these questions but also contribute to the search
for right answers to these questions. The Constitution clearly defines all the
rules of the game on democratic governance of the homeland. Multiple power centres,
resorting to dharnas and weakening the writ have to have an end.

Table 1: Timeline of the Sit-in

PSP Chairman Mustafa Kamal says
Rangers brokered attempted Political Alliance

Mr. Mustafa Kamal, (centre) Chairman Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP), addressing
a press conference on November 11, 2017

In a Press Conference held on November 11, 2017, Mr. Mustafa
Kamal, Chairman Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP), revealed that the Sindh Rangers brokered
the deal between the PSP and Mr. Farooq Sattar’s Muttahida Quami Movement –
Pakistan (MQM-P). [6]

He said that ” today I want to tell all of Pakistan that,
yes, the establishment called us and made us meet Farooq Sattar. When we reached,
Sattar was already there and it was on his request that we were called. This
did not happen a few hours ago. Sattar and his team have been calling us with
help from the establishment for the past eight months .”

Previously, on November 08, 2017 both Kamal and Sattar had
announced, in a jubilant press conference, to form a political alliance, where
Kamal had made it clear that the alliance will be named “anything but MQM.”
The two parties had announced to join under one party, one manifesto, and one
symbol.[7] However, on November
09, 2017, Sattar called another Press Conference saying that, although their
alliance with PSP was still intact, MQM-P would contest elections under its
own symbol and manifesto.

Responding to the statement by Mr. Mustafa Kamal, Sindh Rangers
Director General Major General Muhammad Saeed said that the military establishment
did not support any particular political party in Karachi. “We just don’t want
a clash between them.” [8] “Since
September 2013, we have had an intense interaction with all political parties
that were allegedly involved in committing violence in Karachi. However, we
have not dictated any organizational policy for the political landscape of the
metropolis.” Saeed went on to say that during the meeting [between MQM, PSP
and LEAs] a military official might have shared an opinion that an alliance
would be in the interest of the city, “but this is not our institutional policy.”[9]

Pakistan has experienced a dark history with dire consequences
of establishment’s political engineering maneuvered in the shape of PML-Q by
Major General Ihtasham Zamir; IJI claimed to have been created by Lt. Gen. Hameed
Gul; and MQM facilitated as a counterweight to the Pakistan Peoples Party in
Sindh under General Zia’s martial law. Apart from PSP-MQM-P alliance, serious
questions are raised on the role of the establishment in undermining and ousting
Mr. Nawaz Sharif, to now pressurizing the PML-N government. Similar past experiences
exist of pre-election, election-day and post-election meddling and manipulation.
If this flagrant violation of Constitution and rule of law has indeed taken
place, proper legal proceedings should be instituted to hold the responsible
persons to account otherwise it will raise critical questions on the future
of democratic governance in Pakistan.
COAS asks for More Cases for Military
Courts

Reportedly, the COAS, in a letter addressed to the Prime Minister,
pointed out that military courts had not received any terrorism-related cases
since January 2017. [10] This
resulted in the Federal Cabinet clearing 29 cases to be referred to Military
Courts. Federal Minister for Interior, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, also told the media
that 80 more cases were pending approval by the Cabinet and “after this, the
Interior Ministry will not have any more cases pending,” he said.

The formation of the Military Courts in January 2015 was made
possible by the Parliament when it passed the 21st Constitutional Amendment,
2015 (that had a sunset clause of two years and later reconstituted for another
two years in January 2017) after the Peshawar Tragedy. The Federal and Provincial
Governments have so far failed to reform the justice system so that military
courts are not required to deal with the terrorism cases. If the Government
is not forwarding the cases to the military courts in time and the COAS has
to remind the Government on this count, it indicates a sorry state of efficiency
in the Government.

Given the centrality and importance of the 20-point consensus-based
National Action Plan (NAP) in countering terrorism in Pakistan, PILDAT has undertaken
a citizens’ initiative to monitor the progress of implementation of the NAP.
PILDAT Quarterly Monitors report progress based on publicly available data in
order to promote fact-based discourse on the progress in implementing NAP. While
PILDAT has repeatedly asked the ISPR to provide provincial and federal data
on number of cases received and tried by Military Courts, the ISPR has not been
forthcoming in sharing the required data to allow assessment of the important
NAP point number 1 of Implementation of death sentences of those convicted
of terrorism. Federal Government may do well by compiling and releasing
a periodic progress report on the implementation of NAP. Corps Commanders’ Conference

The 205^th Corps Commanders’ Conference took place
at the GHQ on November 02, 2017. Geo-strategic security environment, with a
focus on recent interactions with Afghan and U.S. government, as well as theinternal
security situation was reviewed in the conference. [11]
The COAS said that while the Army was helping the Government to consolidate
operational gains through development in socio-economic domains, ‘there will
be enhanced focus on similar socio-economic development effort in Balochistan.’
[12]

While military efforts for development in problematic areas,
such as Federally Administered Tribal Areas are quite commendable, there is
a need for the Government to take an active interest in the governance, and
development of these areas which are cleared by the military. Continuing Role of COAS in Foreign
Affairs

The COAS continues to play an active role in the diplomatic
domain. Following is an account of his diplomatic interactions during November
2017:

1.    Two-Day Visit to Iran: COAS
meets Iranian President

COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa meeting Iranian President Mr. Hassan
Rouhani at the Iranian Presidential Palace on November 06, 2017.

On November 06, 2017, the COAS General Qamar Bajwa met
with the Iranian President Mr. Hassan Rouhani at the Presidential Palace
while on a two-day visit to Iran. He also met the Iranian Foreign Minister
Mohammad Javad Zarif, and his Iranian counterpart, Chief of General Staff
(CGS), Major General Muhammad Bagheri. Later, he met the Iranian Defence
Minister, Brigadier General Amir Hatami. During the meetings ‘issues related
to geo-strategic environment, defence & security and economic cooperation
at bilateral as well as regional level’ were discussed. The Afghan situation,
growing threat of ISIS in the region, as well as Pak-Iran border security
was also discussed. [13]

2.   COAS Meetings with various Ambassadors

Top Left: US Ambassador David Hale with the COAS; Top Right: Chinese
Special Envoy on Afghan Affairs Mr. Deng Xijun with the COAS; Bottom Left:
Mr. Kong Xuanyou, Assistant Foreign Minister and Special Envoy on Korean
Peninsula Affairs of China, with the COAS; Bottom Right: Mr. Sadik Babur
Girgin, Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan, with the COAS.

1. On November 09, 2017, US Ambassador to Pakistan, Mr. David Hale, met
   with the COAS, at the GHQ to “discuss bilateral and regional security
   issues.” [14]
2. On November 17, 2017, Special Envoy on Afghan Affairs, Ministry of Foreign
   Affairs of People’s Republic of China, Mr. Deng Xijun, met with the COAS
   to discuss matters of mutual interest with an emphasis on Pak-Afghan border
   management and Counter Terrorism efforts. [15]
3. On November 21, 2017, Mr. Kong Xuanyou, Assistant Foreign Minister and
   Special Envoy on Korean Peninsula Affairs of China, and Mr. Yao Jing,
   newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, called on the COAS at
   the GHQ to discuss matters of regional security.[16]
4. On November 24, 2017, Mr. Sadik Babur Girgin, Turkish Ambassador to
   Pakistan, met the COAS at the GHQ to bid farewell to the COAS at the end
   of his tenure in Pakistan. [17]

Pakistan Army’s Public Relations
Efforts

1.    Corps Commander Appreciates
Football Team of Mirpur, AJ&K

Commander 10 Corps, Lieutenant General Nadeem Raza, with football team
of Mirpur, AJ&K

Commander 10 Corps, Lieutenant General Nadeem Raza, met
and appreciated young sportsmen of the football team of Mirpur, who won
12th Open All Russia Football Competition – Future Depend on You- 2017 held
at Moscow from October 25 – 28 2017. The Commander ‘appreciated achievement
of the young children and   assured support for their training
and assistance.[18]

2.   Students spend a day with Pakistan
Army

1. On November 17 2017, 250 students and faculty members from Institute
   of Business Administration Sukkur, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur,
   and Degree College Pano Aqil, spent a day at Panu Aqil Garrison to experience
   the routine functioning of the Pakistan Army. The students witnessed arms
   and equipment display, small arms firing at ranges and a demonstration
   on action by Quick Reaction Force.[19]
2. On November 18, 2017, 400 students and faculty members from different
   schools and colleges of Rawalpindi also spent a day with Rawalpindi Corps.
   The students were shown combat worthiness of troops through display of
   combat riding, unarmed combat and heli-repelling. The students were shown
   different military equipment and given experience of small arm firing
   as well. [20]

3.    Commander Southern Command
in Balochistan met with students

Commander Southern Command Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa while
meeting students on November 17, 2017

Besides doing an operational review in Awaran district,
Commander Southern Command, Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa, also visited
the newly renovated Government Girls High School, Gajjar, which was destroyed
by an earthquake. According to ISPR, Pakistan Army has provided furniture,
2 school vans, established Physics, Chemistry and Biology labs and re-built
2 primary schools, as well as established a mini market, Vocational Training
Centre and donated an ambulance, complete medical equipment and medicines
for the Rural Health Centre. [21]

4.   Youth Delegation from FATA visited
ISPR

Director General ISPR Major General Asim Ghafoor with Youth Delegation
from FATA, on November 24, 2017

On November 24, 2017, a youth delegation from the 7 agencies
of Federally Administered Tribal Areas visited ISPR to convey their feelings
about the future of FATA. Director General ISPR Major General Asim Ghafoor
told the delegation that gains made through great sacrifice of the people
of FATA will not go to waste, and the Pakistan Army will continue to support
state institutions in line with aspirations of the people of FATA. [22]

5.    Cricket Match organized by
Pak Army in Quetta

Pakistan Army organized Inter-University Cricket Tournament in Quetta,
which concluded on November 28, 2017

An Inter-University Cricket Tournament organized by the
Pakistan Army concluded on November 28, 2017. Provincial Sports Minister
Mir Mujeeb Ur Rehman Hasni, Vice Chancellors of all the universities of
Balochistan, and senior Army and Civil Officers came to watch the matches.
Commander Southern Command Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa gave away prizes to
the winners of the tournament.

National Security Committee Meeting

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chairing a meeting of the National Security
Committee on November 15, 2017

Chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan
Abbasi, a National Security Committee meeting took place in Islamabad on November
15, 2017.

A statement issued by the Prime Minister Office stated that
the committee unanimously agreed that Pakistan would fulfil “bilateral commitments”
with other countries and take advantage of energy import sources available in
the region.[23]  The security
situation in Balochistan was also reviewed in the meeting, and the role of Armed
forces in improving the situation was appreciated. A commitment of the Federal
Government for orchestrating rapid socio-economical development was reiterated.
The committee also developed a consensus on providing increased ‘development
resources’ to Balochistan, as well as a “cooperative implementation mechanism
for development projects to ensure greater efficiency and transparency so that
the benefits of increased development funding flow directly to the Baloch people
at the very grassroots level.” However, no monetary value of the development
funds, or the form of government cooperation to ensure benefit to the average
Baloch was communicated after the meeting. [24]
 

Earlier, the meeting of the National Security Committee had
taken place on September 08, 2017. PM-COAS Interactions

Prime Minister Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abassi and the Chief of Army
Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa met thrice during the month of November 2017:

1.    On November 10, 2017
Prime Minister Abbasi, along with COAS Bajwa, visited the Line of Control (LoC)
in Chirikot sector of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The Prime Minister was briefed
about the situation of the LOC, as well as Indian cease-fire violations targeting
civilians. The PM met families of Shaheeds and injured due to Indian shelling,
and condemned Indian atrocities. Meeting with troops, he appreciated their efforts
and sacrifice to protect the nation. [25]
Federal Minister of Defence was not present on the occasion.

2.   Premier Abbasi and COAS Bajwa
also met during the National Security Committee (NSC) on November 15, 2017.
Chaired by the Prime Minister, the meeting was attended by NSC members including
Federal Interior Minister, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, MNA, Foreign Minister, Khawaja Muhammad
Asif, MNA, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Zubair Mehmood
Hayat, Army Chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Naval Chief, Admiral Zafar Mahmood
Abbasi and Chief of the Air Staff ACM Sohail Aman. Federal Minister of Defence
was not present on the occasion.

3.    Premier and COAS also
met on November 27, 2017 to review the law and order situation in the country,
and develop a strategy to deal with the protestors at Faizabad. The meeting
was attended by Chief of the Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Inter Services
Intelligence (ISI) Director General Naveed Mukhtar, Punjab Chief Minister, Mr.
Shahbaz Sharif, MPA and Federal Interior Minister, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, MNA. [26]
The Federal Minister of Defence was not present on the occasion.
International News Zimbabwe’s
President Steps down after 37 years in power

Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s deposed dictator

Following a military intervention in Zimbabwe on November
14, 2017, President Mugabe was put under house arrest. For the next week, immense
pressure was applied on Mugabe to secede power. It was widely believed that
the Army stepped in so that Mrs. Grace Mugabe, Mugaba’s wife, did not succeed
the 93-year-old dictator. [27]
Mr. Mugabe finally stepped down on November 21, 2017 succumbing to pressure,
when his own ruling party ZANU-PF expelled him, and the Parliament began an
impeachment process to force him out. [28] Indian Army to build bridges
in Mumbai

After an overhead pedestrian bridge was
damaged in a stampede in Mumbai, which left 23 people dead, the Indian Army
was given the task of building the bridge by January 2017. While visiting the
site of the stampede, Mr. Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister Maharashtra said,
“The Army said they can build a bridge in a short span…We are taking the Army’s
help in building a new foot overbridge at the Elphinstone Road station and at
two other suburban train stations in Mumbai.” [29]

Widespread criticism came from the opposition on the move
saying “will the Army fill potholes next?” [30]
Ms. Barkha Datt, Indian journalist, writing in the Hindustan Times, said that
“the soldier is not a ‘stepney’ to be brought in every time the vehicle of civil
administration develops a snag; he is not a spare part meant to fix faulty administrative
performances.” [31]