Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'In Pakistan, Military is always the Winner' that was published in Newsband

In Pakistan, Military is always the Winner

A caretaker Prime Minister has been chosen in Pakistan. That means it’s time for election. The general elections will be on July 25 in Pakistan. There will be a transfer of power from one civilian government to another. Nasirul Mulk, a former Chief Justice, has been chosen as caretaker Prime Minister. The outgoing Pakistan Muslim League (N) Prime Minister is Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Justice Mulk is the one who heard the case of a sitting Prime Minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, who was summoned on contempt charges in 2012. He was also on the seven-judge bench that issued a restraining order against the then all-powerful President, Pervez Musharraf, in 2007. In 2013-14 he served as the acting Chief Election Commissioner,

However, Justice Mulk and his caretaker Cabinet will have crises to deal with over the next two months. The issues are related to International and internal terrorism. As caretaker Prime Minister, Justice Mulk, will be also required to steady the economy. The outgoing government has reportedly asked Beijing for a loan of $1 billion to $2 billion, which will add to Pakistan’s burgeoning debt on account of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The Country has lost its zest due to terrorism and other acts of fanaticism. Looking at the debts they hold, country is getting downstream deeply year after year. People, Government, Terrorists and Fanatics should discuss together first to raise the country.

It is worthwhile recalling Perico, Duke of Amalfi, who said so presciently about Pakistan almost sixty years back, ". . . this country will drift from crisis to calamity, from calamity to catastrophe, and from catastrophe to disaster". Therefore, an interim Prime Minister should neither take any blame nor should he have to address the issues. Pakistan's problems are humongous in every front and stem from its single-minded obsession to destroy India. Its structural problems cannot be solved unless it sees light but countries such as the US and China (and lately Russia) see utility for themselves in egging on Pakistan along its chosen trajectory with the result that Pakistan is made to believe that its objective vis-a-vis India is just around the corner and one more heave, it would be there. It is because of these powerful sponsors who encourage & support Pakistan’s megalomania and above-weight-punching, that it suffers immeasurably, apart, of course, from its obsession against us.

This is rare occasion when Pakistan has completed the full term despite military and terrorism dominance over its politics and society. Hopefully peaceful elections would give way to democratic government with progress as its goal and secular intent. But no matter to which party Pakistan's people cast their votes, winner will be military.

The care taker Prime Minister has the onus to conduct the election peacefully and hold the charge until an elected Government takes charge. Taking into account that the terror groups is vital for peaceful election, he has also to look into the financial commitment on the CPEC and for other constructive purposes. Anyhow the rise of democratic governments in Pakistan is good for solving geo political problems in West Asia.

But one thing is clear. Democracy is weak in Pakistan and is for ceremonial purposes only. The army and ISI are the real rulers and any Civilian Government going against the wishes of the Pak army is quickly deposed in a coup. "A stable, peaceful, prosperous Pakistan", continuously sponsoring terror strikes against India – is that what the Pakistan military government wants?