Friday, September 3, 2004
Pakistan civil institutes in military grasp
Vishal Thapar New Delhi, September 3
Under General Pervez Musharraf's patronage, a khaki wave is sweeping Pakistan. As many as 1,027 military officers have been inducted in civilian posts since the October 12, 1999 military coup.
Pakistan's political opposition and the media are now beginning to voice dissent against what is being termed the "greatest militarisation of civil institutions". Footfalls of jackboots can be heard across the entire spectrum of the establishment. From commerce to education to power plants and sports, khaki rules Pakistan.
According to The Dawn, serving and retired military officers have wrested key slots in ministries like food and agriculture, health, housing and works, industries and production, petroleum and natural gas, and information and broadcasting. This is besides the 113 posts they hold in the defence ministry, 88 in the interior ministry, 25 in the Kashmir and northern affairs ministry, and 24 in the foreign affairs ministry.
The military has also forced its way into the ministries of IT, labour, minority affairs, population welfare and religious affairs (1). Over a dozen generals are envoys to various countries. Of the 61 officials given service extensions since December 2002, 32 are from the military.
The army's march also covers the finance commission, space research centre, post office, civil aviation authority, railways, federal public service commission and various port trusts and oil companies. Many of the brass-hatters that sit in these offices are paid salaries of up to Rs 3,00,000 a month.
Critics say Musharraf promised depoliticisation of the institutions of state but instead, militarised these like never before. Leader of the Democratic Alliance in the Senate Raza Rabbani terms the policy 'flawed' and 'selfish'.
What's worrying observers is the military's independent financial clout that affords it room to function as a state within a state. Through four of its foundations, intended for the welfare of soldiers, the military commands resources of about Rs 20,000 crore. This makes the foundations Pakistan's biggest business conglomerate.
Another money-spinning initiative is the National Logistics Cell, a Rs 500-crore trucking giant controlled by the army's general HQs.
"Peace initiatives can only thrive under a democratic set up, not under a government ruled by an army general," Pakistani human rights activist Asma Jehangir said in Kolkata on Thursday. "A military ruler always needs some excuse to stay in power. If Kashmir is not there, what excuse will he have," she asked.
© HT Media Ltd. 2004.