SPY EYES

Amidst talk of confrontation between the military and the judiciary, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has called for complete harmony among all state institutions for the progress and prosperity of the country. Everyone – including politicians, judges and generals – committed mistakes in the past. It is, however, a highly welcome sign that these mistakes are being realised … and supremacy of the Constitution and law is being acknowledged, said PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif in a statement on Wednesday. On Monday, army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said that individual mistakes have been committed by everyone “… [but] let’s not pre-judge anyone, be it a civilian or a military person and extend it, unnecessarily, to undermine respective institutions.” His statement was viewed by analysts as a response to the ongoing criticism of the military due to the wrongs of some former officers. The PML-N chief, however, said the army is a symbol of the country’s solidarity and defence, and every patriotic Pakistani wants to see Pakistan Army united and strong. Any attempt to a create rift in the army is against the national interest, he added. At the same time, he said the judiciary is performing the sacred role of providing justice. Lawyers, media and civil society launched a historic struggle for the restoration of the judiciary, in which everyone rendered sacrifices, he added. Nawaz said that awarding punishment to any person regardless of his position, name or status is the constitutional responsibility of the judiciary. Weakening the judiciary is like turning the country into a jungle, whereas weakening the army is tantamount to weakening national defence, he added. About Gen Kayani’s statement, Nawaz said the army, under the leadership of its present head, has desisted from any kind of adventurism. Similarly, he added, the judiciary is making historic decisions without any fear. The central point of both the speeches by the chief justice and the army chief is to ensure predominance of the Constitution and law, which is a matter of great satisfaction and symbolically reflects light and hope for a new emerging Pakistan, the PML-N chief said. He expressed hope that the media would play its role in bringing the two institutions together to strengthen the democratic process and safeguard Pakistan’s interests. The Express Tribune