Still in grip of military

ONE potential paradox of the elections in Pakistan is that regardless of who wins, the army’s reputation seems a clear loser. Its intimidation of politicians and journalists and enormous power to manipulate the electoral outcome have been noted across the country.

The military’s interference in the nation’s politics is not new. It stretches back to independence.

However, the recent episode arguably began with the dismissal of Nawaz Sharif as prime minister followed by his debarment from politics, his arrest and imprisonment.

After the election, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) reported that the military’s security agencies put pressure on Sharif ’s candidates to switch loyalties.

They have been harassed and their electoral banners removed. Working with the judiciary, the army ensured extremist outfits could contest.

As people cast their votes, about 371 000 troops were deployed both outside and inside polling stations.

They’ve been assigned magisterial powers to hold on-the-spot trials of anyone accused of breaking the laws and, thereafter, to sentence them.

HRCP chairperson Mehdi Hasan called this “blatant, aggressive and unabashed attempts to manipulate the outcome of the upcoming elections”.

He says “there are now ample grounds to doubt their legitimacy, with alarming implications for Pakistan’s transition to an effective democracy”.

Side by side with this sorry story is the disturbing saga of what happened to parts of the Pakistani media that have the courage to speak out. The HRCP says they’ve been “subject to censorship, intimidation, harassment and abduction”.

Hameed Haroon, chief executive of the Dawn Media Group, says they have had their newspapers removed.

The group’s well-known news channel was shifted by Islamabad’s main cable network from the number nine to number 28 slot. Consequently, many can no longer find or see it.

Haroon, who is also president of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society, accused the military of an “unprecedented assault” on press freedom.

Last week, Islamabad High Court Justice Shaukat Siddiqui publicly said the military was putting pressure on the chief justice and other judges for favourable verdicts in different cases.

In the circumstances, it’s hard to resist the conclusion of outspoken former senator Farhatullah Babar who said a creeping coup has taken place against the authority of the civilian government.

Clearly discernible behind this is the iron hand of the military. Its velvet glove has worn very thin.