Why a Military Coup is Necessary in Pakistan

There are many who genuinely care of the present parlous state of affairs and yearn for a change; but they have no power or organization to affect it. They want to fight against the debilitating status quo. In fact, the fight is not against the, so called politicians, the fight would also be against the foreign imperialist countries; who have their agents firmly entrenched in Pakistan, to shape its political direction; the way they want. The rulers are nothing but the viceroys of the modern day colonial system. The last general elections, (May 2013) for example, clearly had foreign hands in it; that brought the judiciary in line with the Sharifs and their clan, to ensure the defeat of Imran Khans party. The police departments are highly politicized they will quickly come to rescue the government rather than the public; in case there is any manifestation of an incipient grass-root movement or revolution or a dissent in a big way. Although the foreign colonialists had left 65 years ago, but the brown Sahibs who replaced them are still busy running the colonial system. The police and the bureaucrats, to this day, have the same mentality and value system as they did prior to 1947 when they were servants of a colonial imperialist. To this day, the government officials have not learned that they are hired to serve the public and not the government. Akin to the erstwhile colonial/ imperialist rulers, they treat all political problems/ issues as law and order issues. The public can think of any kind of movement, a Bolshevik style on one extreme or the Gandhi style on the other extreme, it will not be successful in todays Pakistan. The only revolution that can possibly bring in a change or be successful in Pakistan; would be the one on the lines of Mustafa Kamals in Turkey. In view of our fractious political landscape, it has to come through a military coup. Unlike the last three, this coup will have to build civil institutions; will have to permanently depose the professional political thugs (PPP, PML- N, Q etc., MQM, ANP and the religious parties). A new and out of the box thinking will have to be deployed whereby people would run for the highest positions without being a member of any political party and without spending a penny from their own pocket. The political parties need to be banished. These parties cannot serve the present day Pakistan where poverty and illiteracy is rampant. The combination of the present day election system, the poor socio-economic conditions and a complete lack of a suitable political culture will always bring in power the thugs and thieves no matter how many election cycles you go through. The Pakistani plutocracy will not allow democracy to take root and the basic human rights will always be luxury for the common man on the Pakistani street. The present nihilistic system will never let the kernel of change germinate. The existential state of affairs does not harbor any chance of a Kemalesque revolution occurring. Please consider the following: 1) The current (and the past) crop of politicians was foisted upon this hapless nation by the very Praetorian Guards who could be the initiator of a true revolution.

2) Political parties like MQM and PML-Q etc and the rabidly violent sectarian entities are also the handiwork of the same military coterie and their successors. 3) Two of the most crooked and corrupt politicians were allowed to assume power through the NRO, again by the military. 4) Promotion in the army beyond the rank of a brigadier (and in some cases in lower ranks) is decidedly not on merit. Mediocrity is promoted. And the results are evident. 5) Pakistan is one of the few societies left, where the insidious feudal system is not only in vogue; but flourishing on daily basis. This feudal mind-set permeates all individuals and all institutions. 6) All previous military coups were either on the behest of foreign powers or for acquisition/ perpetuation of personal power; never for the benefit of the people. Musharrafs a case in point. 7) Military is currently entrenched as a status quo power. It is too embarrassing to dilate upon, that how unprofessional it has become. Its tactical performance, which used to be good, despite shoddy generalship; now leaves much to be desired. 8) Additionally, the military is spread thin throughout the length and breadth of Pakistan. It is (through Rangers) fighting an urban war against mafias in Karachi (who are surrogates of various political parties); a civil war/ insurgency in Baluchistan; terrorism in FATA/ KPK (and of course in all major urban centers in the country). 9) The common mans energies and concentration have been completely focused on subsistence living. 10) The middle class is on the verge of extinction. 11) A corrupt lower judiciary and corrupt and politicized higher judiciary. 12) Mullahs have incrementally usurped the political and social space; they have a tangible nexus with the terrorists and are now openly supporting them. They have been able to psychologically overwhelm the common man, politicians, bureaucracy, media and LEAs (notwithstanding honorable exceptions. 13) Media is wile and corrupt. It is simultaneously serving a host of masters including endogenous terrorists and exogenous powers. They are exercising unbridled power without responsibility; distorting facts and misleading public with mala fide intentions. 14) The professional class started a mass exodus right after the Zia's takeover; and it has accelerated in the recent past. What is left behind consist of those who cannot emigrate, dregs of the society and criminals (including politicians). Due to the cumulative thrust of the above factors, any action by the military against the corrupt and rotten edifice of the existing (dis)order would create a power vacuum, which for obvious reasons would be easily filled by the mullah-terrorist combine. Therefore, it would be a more prudent strategy for the military to synergize all its assets/ efforts to eliminate the spiraling terrorist threat to the state and society. It is only after eliminating the terrorist/ insurgency threat, could it turn its guns inwards.

Despite the above negatives, I feel that our short-term chance for redemption is to create an objective awareness of the situation/ issues and educate the people. We need to strengthen the civil society and infuse some spirit in them. We should not wait for a conducive environment for the army to act. We should endeavor to mobilize the masses and act as a strong pressure group/ catalyst for change. The initial objective should be better governance. Notwithstanding the above, nothing like a ruthless coup that demolishes the ancient regime; eradicates the old dogmas and demagogues peddling fossilized and toxic ideas; a positive destruction, if you will. We need a new and an equitable contract. A new Pakistan (a much abused term) cannot be built on the ruins of the present moribund state. A new edifice right from grass-roots upwards needs to be erected. The slate has to be wiped cleaned. A new Pakistan shall need a brand new mind-set, which will cast aside the tyranny and the thralls of the past both of the mind and body. But nothing is on the horizon yet; still we need to act. Lt Col (R) Abdul Naeem