Armymen to dominate Pak. Security Council

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JULY 5. In what is seen as the first major step towards institutionalisation of the role of the army in governance, the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has reconstituted the National Security Council (NSC).

The NSC, formed after the military takeover in October 1999, is the supreme body vested with powers to aid and advice the President on all vital national matters. The President, rather than the Chief Executive, would head the revamped organisation.

Under an order passed by Gen. Musharraf, the reconstituted NSC would be dominated by the military and all other members on the Council would be the appointees of the President.

The job of the Council is to aid and advise the President on matters relating to Islamic ideology, security, integrity and solidarity of Pakistan. In other words, it covers the whole gamut of issues under the subject of governance.

The President (Gen. Musharraf) will be the Chairman of the Council. It will comprise the Chief Executive (Gen. Musharraf), Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (Gen. Musharraf), the three service chiefs, provincial Governors and ``such other members'' as may be appointed by the President in his discretion.

The Council member would hold office during the ``pleasure of the President'' and its meeting would be called at any place deemed fit by the President. As per the new order, the decision of the President, after taking into consideration the deliberations of the Council ``shall be enforced and given effect in a manner as deemed fit by the President''.

Under the new order, the non-military members of the Council would have to taken an oath before the President in the form set out in the schedule of the new order.

In other words, as per the new order, the President shall be the supreme authority of the Council and the tilt of the reconstituted body is heavily in favour of the military.

The Council is a creation of the Musharraf Government after the military takeover in October 1999. Gen (retd). Jahangir Karamat, the predecessor of Gen. Musharraf, had quit his job following differences with the then Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif, over the question of constitution of the Council.

The NSC, constituted by Gen. Musharraf within weeks after the coup had several civil members as a number of Ministers are in it. But with the latest reconstitution, the Council would be totally under the control of the military.

Gen. Musharraf, ever since he took over the reins of the country, has been hinting on the need for institutionalisation of the Army's role in Pakistan in governance. His case is that there was need for checks and balances on the unbridled powers of the office of the Prime Minister, given the bitter experience of the past.

The political parties are bound to resent the reconstitution of the NSC in such a way that the Army retains control over the body and in the process, on all crucial matters of governance.

Gen. Musharraf needs to secure the stamp of approval of the new Parliament, as and when it is constituted. It is difficult to see how the political class in Pakistan would give up easily on a matter of such vital concern to them.

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Section  : International
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