The top military commanders’ concerns over lack of ‘governance initiatives’ to complement counterterrorism operations reverberated in the lower house of parliament. Most lawmakers urged the government to improve governance and ensure implementation of the national counterterrorism plan. But a Pashtun nationalist leader claimed the ISPR statement issued at the end of the corps commanders’ conference on Tuesday was against the ‘spirit of the Constitution’. While the PTI lawmakers took the government to task, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai labelled the ISPR statement ‘against the spirit of the Constitution’. It would be unrealistic to presume that the fight against terrorists and extremists can be conducted successfully without political support. A perception is being formed that after targeting MQM and PPP, guns are now being turned towards the PML-N. The ANP, which is the only remaining party genuinely opposed to the terrorists, is not going to support any unconstitutional action. Where will the army look for political support under the circumstances? The PTI is still unreconciled with the military action in the tribal areas and would prefer to revive talks with the TTP. Element like Hafiz Saeed, Fazlur Rehman Khalil and Samiul Haq have once again reiterated opposition to seminary reforms and called on religious parties to forge an alliance against what they consider anti-Islam forces. It is time the army dispels the notion that it was in any way trying to weaken the government. A division between the army and the civilian government will harm the national cause. It will be used by India, Afghanistan and the Baloch dissidents to refuse to enter into talks with the government. The PML-N must take the Parliament into confidence over what is going on behind the scenes. By conducting the affairs of the state in a highly personalised way, the Prime Minister has done no service to the system while he has landed himself and the PML-N into isolation. There is a dire need on his part to take Parliament on board on important foreign policy initiatives and security issues in an open or in camera session.
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