ISLAMABAD:

The Prime Minister House is said to be in a state of panic. And justifiably so. Last weeks
statement of army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, which made headlines in the national
media, was a telling example of growing unease in the security establishment over the
governments dilly-dallying on key issues involving the military.
Gen Qamar said during a visit to Kharian garrison that there will be
no compromise on the dignity of Pakistan Army. The military didnt
specify the context of the statement, but sources say the army chief
was responding to questions from military officials about a
dormant inquiry into the Dawn leaks controversy and Rana
Sanaullahs criticism of military courts.
After Gen Qamars statement, its not business as usual at the Prime
Minister House. Nawaz Sharif conferred with his trusted aides on
how to control the damage done to civil-military ties by the recent
developments, insiders told The Express Tribune.
As a first step, Sharif has stopped PML-N leaders from making
statements against the military courts without the permission of the
central leadership, said one insider. Even low cadre leaders of the
ruling party have been directed to avoid making statements,
especially about the security establishment, that might trigger
controversies.

Not everyone would participate in TV talk-shows. According to

insiders, the PML-N has designated a handful of officials to serve as
the partys talking heads on national issues, but they too have been
directed to follow the partys guidelines.

The ruling party believed the Dawn leaks controversy would die
down with the departure of Raheel Sharif from the Army House, but
they were mistaken. Gen Qamars statement has unnerved the ruling
party.

The security establishment is reportedly not happy with the

governments attempts to hush up the row triggered by the
publication of a planted news story in the English language daily
Dawn in Oct, last year.

The security establishment believes the fabricated story was fed to

the paper by government officials to malign the military. Following
angry reaction from the military to the story, the then information
minister, Pervaiz Rashid, was sent packing and an inquiry was
ordered.

Subsequently, reports made the rounds in the news media that the
jobs of some senior bureaucrats serving at the Prime Minister House
were also on the chopping block. But nothing happened.

In November, the government set up a seven-member committee,

headed by Justice (retd) Aamer Raza Khan, to probe the matter and
fix responsibility. It transpired later that Justice Khan had close
relations with the Sharif family. Nothing has come out of the inquiry
thus far, much to the chagrin of the security establishment.

Relevant circles believe if the security establishment refused to

relent, some officials of the Prime Minister House might be made
scapegoats. Someone has to pay the price, an insider told The
Express Tribune. And that someone would most probably be baboos
(civil servants).

The official spokesperson for the Prime Minister House, Musadik

Malik, was approached for the official version on the story, but he
didnt reply to phone calls, SMSs and WhatsApp messages.

Premier Sharifs Adviser Ameer Muqam denied there was any strain
in the civil-military relations. Some issues have popped up that need
to be seen in a particular context, he said without elaborating.

Govt mulls reinstatement of military courts

Asked about Rana Sanaullahs criticism of the military courts,
Muqam said the Punjab law minister has already retracted his
statement.

Political analyst Kanwar Dilshad says the governments mishandling

of contentious issues prompted the tough stance from the security
establishment. The way former army chief Gen (retd) Raheel Sharif
was trolled on social media and in TV talk-shows was bound to have
consequences, he told The Express Tribune.
Rana Sanaullahs statement added fuel to the fire. Then there is the
planted story issue that has been hushed up in a highly dubious
manner. My advice to the government is, learn your lesson and stop
playing with fire, Dilshad said.

He said Gen Qamars message is loud and clear. Theres no going

back. The prime minister might have good intentions to develop a
cordial equation with the security establishment, but there are people
around him who like to play games. And this will backfire.

Former federal minister Mushahidullah Khan is reportedly among

one of the hopefuls for the slot of Sindh governor. Informed circles
say this could also be one of the reasons for the strain in the civil-
military relations. Khan had to quit his ministerial office after he
accused the then ISI chief, Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam, of plotting to
overthrow the PML-N government.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15 th, 2017.

malign
evil in nature or effect.
"she had a strong and malign influence"
Dormant
adjective

(of an animal) having normal physical functions suspended or slowed down for a
period of time; in or as if in a deep sleep.
"dormant butterflies"

dilly-dally
verb
informal
waste time through aimless wandering or indecision.
"don't dilly-dally for too long"

hushed up
Hush up definition, (used as a command to be silent or quiet.)

stranded
adjective
If you're stuck somewhere with no way of getting anywhere else, you're stranded.

Snap
verb
break suddenly and completely, typically with a sharp cracking sound.
"guitar strings kept snapping"
synonyms break, break in/into two, fracture, splinter, separate, come apart, part, split, crack;
:

Shiver
verb
3rd person present: shivers
shake slightly and uncontrollably as a result of being cold, frightened, or excited.
"they shivered in the damp foggy cold"

Swashbuckler
A swashbuckler is an heroic archetype in European adventure literature that is typified by
the use of a sword and chivalric ideals.
engage in daring and romantic adventures with bravado or flamboyance.
"a crew of swashbuckling buccaneers"

Bloke
a man.
"he's a nice bloke"
synonyms: man, boy, male, individual, body;