Page 12 - The Indian EYE 121721

OpINION DECEMBER 17, 2021 | The Indian Eye 12

the Meaning of recent

developments in pakistan:

the More things Change…

As the civilian political space shrinks and the capacity of the state gets hobbled by political dissension and
internal resistance from forces armed with an alternate blueprint, Pakistan is likely to rely more on its anti-

India stance to build national unity, seeking especially to suck in the militant religious groups into its orbit

AShOK K. BEhuRIA

ndia’s security is inevitably linked
to the strategy adopted by its
iWestern neighbor which has a
pronounced anti-India orientation
in its foreign and security policy.
Therefore, it becomes imperative
for India to scan developments in its
western neighborhood continually,
and calibrate its security policies in
a concomitant manner. It is import-
ant in this context to study the recent
developments in Pakistan and assess
the evolving political and security sit-
uation at the internal level. This can
be done at three different levels: (i)
the nature of interactions between
the government and the opposition;
(ii) the civil–military relations; and
(iii) the internal security situation.
Pakistan’s approach towards India
also begs scrutiny in light of these de-
velopments.

the GovernMent verSuS
oppoSition

The relationship between the
ruling party and the opposition re-
mains as tenuous as has been ever Imran Khan with Pakistan army chief Gen Bajwa
since Imran Khan assumed power
after the contentious ‘stolen’ elec- and Arshad Malik (died under suspi- tion is kept divided on critical issues er house. The bills in question per-
tions in 2018. The latest audiotapes cious circumstances). that could have led to the fall of the tained to the use of electronic voting
attributed to former Chief Justice of Amid all this, the opposition has government. Nevertheless, the oppo- machines (EVMs) in the coming
Pakistan Saqib Nisar proves beyond been crying foul without much suc- sition has managed to raise the po- elections, I-voting for the overseas
all doubt the deep-state’s plan to cess, primarily because of the lack of litical temperature from time to time Pakistanis (both likely to be used
hold Nawaz guilty and bring Imran support from what many in Pakistan and kept the government guessing for rigging) and the Criminal Law
to power was mediated through the call khalai makhlook (aliens), or the about its next moves. (Amendment) Bill 2021 which pro-
judiciary, which points to now re- deep-state. Three years and about The government, on the other vides for the punishment of “chemi-
stored inter-institutional army–judi- 23 public demonstrations/march- hand, is disregarding the opposition cal castration” of the habitual rapist.
ciary collaboration to determine the es (since October 2020) later, there in matters concerning legislation Najam Sethi, a perceptive observer
course of politics in Pakistan. The appears to be no love lost between and riding roughshod over their ob- of Pakistani politics, called the day
judiciary has even cannibalized itself the opposition and the government. jections on matters of national im- ‘Black Wednesday’. It was held that
by trying to feed on some judges who However, what keeps Imran going is portance. On 17 November 2021, the miltablishment weighed in on the
sought to stand up to the military like the backing by the deep-state more the government bulldozed 33 bills dissenters within the establishment,
Qazi Faez Isa, Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui than anything else. The ‘miltablish- including some controversial bills it ensured the votes of the indepen-
(forced to retire without pension) ment’ has ensured that the opposi- had earlier failed to pass in the low- Continued at next page... >>

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