Gen. Moeen's assurance is reassuring for democracy

Army Chief of Staff General Moeen U Ahmed has made a categorical declaration of his having no political ambition, and no intention of the army to declare martial law. This could not have been better timed. The General made it clear that they would continue to back the Caretaker government to pursue reforms for holding a credible election and restoration of normal political activities.

Talking to a group of editors at the Army Headquarters, General Moeen has been quoted as saying, "We are not going to commit the mistake of taking over the state power like some of our predecessors." The Army chief referred to the anarchy created over the aborted election early this year, because of which the armed forces had been requested to assume the present role.

Today's army is more professional and careful about their constitutional role, he told the group of editors assuring them of cooperation to uphold press freedom. General Moeen listed the successes of the anti-corruption drive and institutional reforms that are expected to put the country back on the track of democracy. More action against corrupt former ministers and politicians are in the offing, it transpired.

When the state of emergency was declared on 11 January the people had heaved a sigh of relief that an impending danger of internecine political violence had been averted as one political alliance had boycotted election and called programmes to resist it while another alliance was heading for the elections.

The Army-backed new Caretaker government that was formed a day later declared war on corruption and promised elections after bringing reforms that would make the process free from the influence of black money and muscle power. However, as the government announced its plan to complete the process of reforms in two years, and the Election Commission started the work of preparing voter list with photos of voters within 18 months, misgivings were filling the air about what subsequent steps the armed forces would be taking to steer the nation clear of the emergency.

General Moeen who highlighted the achievements of the present government during the last four months has cleared all such misgivings about the intentions of the Army and pledged continued loyalty of the armed forces to the Caretaker government. The statement can be treated to have sent a clear message to all that the armed forces are for the restoration of democracy but necessary reforms for democracy must also be completed. It must also not be forgotten that failed leadership cannot be trusted for sustaining democracy.

It is the wish of the nation that General Moeen should be able to set a unique example by promoting the present caretaker government in order to give democracy a fair chance. Armed forces are not outside the government control and yet they are carefully kept out of direct involvement in running the government for upholding their professionalism and also to keep them above political dispute. They symbolise national unity and not political divisiveness. Nobody denies that backing of the armed forces was indispensable for saving the civil government and the constitutional process, yet the armed forces' subservient role in the government must be carefully scrutinised to avoid the government's over-dependence on the armed forces.