influence other institutions. Three, the ability to negotiate with foreign powers.
Question: Which one of the three dimensions of power is still with the civilian-elected government?
The GHQ’s power rests on two pillars: hard power and soft power. The GHQ’s hard power is its 2.924 tanks, 2,828 armoured fighting vehicles, 465 self-propelled guns, 3,278 towed artillery and 134 multiple launcher rocket systems. The GHQ’s soft power is its popularity among the masses, its favourable ratings in public opinion surveys and its image in the public eye.
The PML-N’s power also rests on two pillars: hard power and soft power. The PML-N’s hard power is its 14,874,104 voters, 189 MNAs and 26 senators. The PML-N’s soft power is the prime minister’s personal popularity, the party’s favourable ratings, its image and the PML-N’s investment into public health and education.
From May 2011 to June 2015: There has been little or no change in the GHQ’s hard power (almost the same number of tanks, armoured fighting vehicles, self propelled guns, towed artillery and multiple launcher rocket systems). On the 2nd of May 2011, the day that Osama bin Laden was killed a kilometre from the Pakistan Military Academy at Kakul, the GHQ’s soft power was at its weakest.
Since the 29th of November 2013, the day that General Raheel Sharif became the 15th Chief of Army Staff, the GHQ’s soft power has been surging like never before. On the 15th of June 2014, the day DG-ISPR Major-General Asim Saleem Bajwa announced the launching of a “comprehensive operation against foreign and local terrorists”, the GHQ’s soft power just went through the roof.
As of the 28th of June 2015, the GHQ’s soft power is at a peak not seen in the past several decades.
Conclusion: The PML-N is on a losing streak not because of a change in its hard power (14,874,104 voters, 189 MNAs and 26 senators) but because it’s soft power has crashed. And the GHQ is on a winning streak not because of a change in its hard power but because it’s soft power is at a peak never seen before.
The writer is a columnist based in Islamabad. Email: farrukh15hotmail.com. Twitter: saleemfarrukh