Tightening grip

Recent legislative changes in Pakistan signify the military's increasing hold on governance

- PRABHU DAYAL

Two recent developments in Pakistan are extremely important for understanding how the Army Chief General Asim Munir has further consolidated his grip on power. These developments do not bode well for Imran Khan or his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI). They also have some ramifications for India.

The Pakistan Army Act of 1952 had stipulated that the term of the Army Chief would be three years. It had also capped the Army Chief's age at 64 years. On November 4, the Pakistan Parliament passed a law that has extended the term of the Army Chief from three years to five years. Under the new law, General Munir, who took office in November 2022 with a timeline to retire in 2025, will serve until 2027, irrespective of a retirement age of 64 for a general.

Why has the Pakistan Parliament passed such a law? Simply because the Army Chief wanted it. Pakistan is not a democracy where the elected government rules. Rather, Pakistan is ruled by a Deep State, and the Deep State is the army. The Army Chief has the last word on everything that matters. Civilian authority has been systematically humiliated and crushed in Pakistan. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto tried to exercise his sway as Prime Minister but he was overthrown and later hanged by General Zia ul Haq. Nawaz Sharif stood up to General Musharraf but he was overthrown in a military coup and placed under arrest. Later on, he had to go into exile. More recently, Imran Khan tried to stand up to the Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa but he was summarily overthrown and is still languishing in prison.