Khalai Makhlooq

In the see-saw equation of changing fortunes between civilian politicians and military Generals in Pakistan, selective amnesia is common.

- BHOPINDER SINGH The writer is Lt Gen PVSM, AVSM (Retd), and former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry

In 2018, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif rightly accused Pakistani Generals of facilitating the "selection" (as opposed to "election") of Imran Khan by bumping-off the PML-N dispensation. Nawaz had cuttingly coined the term "Khalai Makhlooq" (extraterrestrial beings or aliens) for the dour Generals to allude to the invisible but sure hand of the cantonment.

It is another matter that the vainglorious Imran Khan misread his "selection" by the Generals to imply their deference, only to be booted-out ingloriously and to be incredulously followed by a government led by the same PML-N, helmed by Nawaz's brother, Shehbaz Sharif.

But wiser with times and experience, the "establishment" (read Pakistani military) has solidified its stranglehold with the self-anointment of Field Marshalship onto its Chief, Asim Munir, should Shehbaz or anyone else in the unnatural alliance government dare think of crossing the line with the Generals again.

Not done with grand posturing, Munir further awarded himself the Hilal-i-Jurat (Pakistan's second highest gallantry award ~ equivalent to India's Maha Vir Chakra) to further embellish the over-decorated uniform of an Army that has never won a war, ever!

While the larger-than-life symbolism of a ramrod posture or blunt (albeit, apolitical) language is naturally given to those in "uniform" across the globe, in Pakistan, it is additionally embellished with political theatrics and extra-constitutional verbiage. Because these Generals want to usurp power, they make sure that they speak the populist language of unhinged and uncouth politicians to suggest their own nationalist "muscularity".