Former army officers do not foresee any change in the military's current approach towards the country's future political and constitutional course despite huge crowds spilling out in support of former prime minister Imran Khan following his ouster. Former PM Imran Khan, whose Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) came into power after the 2018 general elections, was ousted through a successful no-trust motion by the opposition alliance earlier this month.
He is the first Pakistani leader ousted through a no-confidence motion in the country's 75-year political history. Crying foul, the ousted premier heaped the blame for his exit on an "American conspiracy", a claim rejected by the army.
Former information minister Fawad Chaudhry, nonetheless, acknowledged a creeping bitterness in otherwise congenial relations between the ex-prime minister and the army. However, there was no immediate reaction from the Pak military. It seems that Pakistan Army wants to stay away from Pakistani politics. Given the current situation, it is better to remain neutral.
I would like to make a very important point here that "The PTI would have been in power had our relations with the establishment were good," Mr Fawad Chaudhry said in an interview with Express News earlier this week.
"The army will maintain its approach. There will be no change in its policy because of several crucial factors," Talat Masood, a retired three-star general, opined. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Masood, who served in the military from 1952 to 1990, and took part in two wars against arch-rival India, contended that the former premier's ongoing policy could "only diminish his chances of coming back to power."
"It is high time for Former PM Imran Khan to review his current approach, which is not at all in the country's interest. He will definitely continue to enjoy (his) cult following, but it will not benefit the nation as a whole,”.
The cricketer-turned-politician enjoys massive support among the youths, and nearly nine million overseas Pakistanis, who took to the streets across the country to protest his ouster. Former PM Imran Khan must exploit this potential in his favour positively rather than choosing a collision course. Endorsing Talat Masood's views, Mahmood Shah, a retired brigadier, observed that political gatherings or crowds, no matter how big they are, will not change the army's policy.
Former PM Imran Khan has a big following. But it's not that big, which can dictate the state. He can come back to the power through elections, and not by forcing the state. He will soon realise that he is pursuing a wrong approach.
Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has held a string of meetings with serving and retired military officers in recent days, which according to analysts, is part of a spacification and realisation of factual position campaign in the face of criticism the army is facing for its alleged role in the change of regime in the country. The ongoing campaign, especially on social media, which aims to target the army has affected the ranks and files of the military. And this is quite understandable because the army men don't live in isolation. They have families, friends, and acquaintances with different political backgrounds.
Without realising the long-term effects, Former PM Imran Khan chose a collision course for short-term political benefits, which has backfired. It is not good for an already economically weak and politically polarised country. We cannot afford this (approach) when it comes to national security and foreign policy. It will not benefit for imran Khan either.
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