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Journalism of Courage
In Pakistan,the revelation as truth of what was suspected all along may perhaps be more dangerous than the denials. Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilanis outburst against the military on Thursday is no confirmation of an imminent military takeover. But two facts that this was an unprecedented attack and that it came from Gilani raise concerns. Gilanis outburst came amidst the continuing Memogate drama,soon after President Asif Ali Zardaris even more dramatic visit to Dubai ostensibly on medical grounds. For all its protestations,could Pakistan have undermined its sovereignty more?
Gilani said that it was unacceptable for the military to consider itself a state within a state and that conspiracies were afoot to pack up the civilian government. He asserted every institution in Pakistan is under civilian control,when the defence ministry had earlier told the supreme court that it had no operational control over the army and ISI. Should this be interpreted as a genuine warning to General Ashfaq Kayani? A veiled plea to the military to keep itself at bay? Or a message,at last,that the government is in serious danger? In any case,the conflict has been out in the open ever since the resignation of Husain Haqqani as ambassador to the United States. Gilani is not a PM of the popular stature of Nawaz Sharif or Benazir Bhutto. He is an appointed PM,a candidate of convenience. But when the candidate of convenience,never perceived to be strong,speaks out,some masks must be falling off.
