Frustration grips forces of destabilisation

ISLAMABAD: Perennial destabilizers including some key and miniature political parties, nursing a wishful thinking to fuel civil-military tussle in pursuance of their agenda, were thoroughly crestfallen and sullen-faced after the keenly-awaited settlement of the DawnLeaks issue.

Commotion and frustration gripped these elements, having pathological hatred against the democratic system, after the resolution of the matter, yet there was a sense of tremendous satisfaction and fulfillment across the board. Better sense prevailed among all the principal stakeholders. There was no winner, no loser, but democracy won and maturity of institutions pronounced with the resolve to continue this trajectory. No ego stood in the way of sorting out an issue that was being blown out of all proportions unnecessarily.

The deeply exasperated and frustrated agenda driven TV anchors and people of their ilk in the political field will now have to look for some other issue to continue their campaign as a major subject of their movement and conspiracy theories has been unanimously buried.

The separate official statements issued by interior ministry and the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that the matter has been settled. The well-timed, coinciding with each, declarations showed the rare coordination agreed before their making.

Both the announcements were strikingly similar in letter and spirit to a large extent. In essence, they contained the original April 29 directive signed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Secretary, which the ISPR had ‘rejected’ on the spur of the moment, upsetting everybody, a few minutes later.

The ISPR release was brief and it has to be because it was basically meant to withdraw the controversial tweet and declare it infructuous. But it also noted that the recommendations contained in Para 18 of the inquiry committee report, duly approved by the premier, [on April 29], have been implemented, which has settled the DawnLeaks issue; and accordingly, its Twitter post stands withdrawn and has become infructuous.

On the other hand, the interior ministry statement opened by saying that the prime minister was pleased to approve the unanimous recommendations of DawnLeaks inquiry committee on April 29. The only addition of a recommendation was that “due to reasons referred to previous sections, the action already taken by the federal government against Senator Pervez Rashid is endorsed”.

Some words or brief sentences were also incorporated in the interior ministry release, which were not included in the April 29 directive. For example, the addition was “the committee unanimously agreed that Rao Tehseen Ali had not displayed the required level of professionalism and has shown carelessness while dealing with the issue” . . . The original directive had stated that the allocation of the portfolio of special assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi has been ordered to be withdrawn forthwith but the interior ministry announcement said that due to reasons referred in previous sections, the committee recommends removal of Fatemi from his current portfolio.

The ultimate wonder for rapprochement was done in a meeting of Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa with the prime minister. Of course, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan played a key role in making this happen.

A day earlier, the assertion of the prime minister, his comrades and all democratic minds to have civilian supremacy, regardless of the irritation this may have caused to anti-democratic elements, was not something unusual, bizarre or peculiar because this is what the Constitution envisions if it is to be followed.

Such declaration didn’t showcase any egoistic instinct or emphasis on the exclusive authority that the prime minister enjoys as the chief executive on the force of the electorate’s choice although some may interpret this pronouncement as showing power by him, but this was perfectly according to the Constitution.

However, in a democracy, which is yet evolving in Pakistan, a powerful institution ought to be taken along by the premier through constant consultations, debate and discussion to avoid disruption of the democratic and constitutional rule.

The Leaks issue was used to whip up civ-mil confrontation, which was obviously unfortunate and hurtful for Pakistan. It was a simple matter that would have stood resolved the day the prime minister’s office had issued the directive on the orders of the premier, approving all the recommendations of the inquiry committee. But it was needlessly lingered on, providing ammunition to the enemies of democracy to make attempts to trigger civ-mil schism.

What objective would have been achieved by the release of the full inquiry report that Nawaz Sharif’s approval of its operative part – recommendations – had not been able to accomplish was an odd question that came to many minds. Only those demanding its release can explain the purpose they want to realize and on which mission they had embarked upon.

Senator Pervez Rashid was relieved of his portfolio of information ministry many months back; Fatemi’s resignation was secured; Rao Tehseen Ali was removed from his post; and the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) asked to take disciplinary action against the Dawn editor and reporter. Except these, there was no other worthwhile recommendation in the inquiry report. Additionally, there was no direct proof against these persons declaring them guilty of the leaks but only circumstantial evidence was relied upon. But despite that the prime minister accepted the recommendations in totality.