Tag Archives: Gen Raheel Sharif

Pakistan shouldn’t burn its fingers by joining an alliance that didn’t include Iran. Walking into the Saudi trap would be suicidal for Pakistan, pundits had warned Nawaz Sharif government. But Islamabad just did that.

While merit, combat experience and/or being straightforward could have acted as disqualifications for Ishfaq and Javed, only time will tell if Nawaz Sharif is third time lucky. Given the reputation that he deservedly has, Gen Bajwa will be true to the country.

While Martial Law will certainly derail democracy and is not the answer to accountability “across the board”, is the “Kakar Model”, a Martial Law for a limited period without being a Martial Law, the answer for Pakistan?

Until Pakistan stops short-term tactics such as playing one group against the other, it will remain volatile and prone to recurring political turmoil as well as vulnerable to the nexus of non-state actors and criminal syndicates.

Pakistan is at a dangerous crossroads, lip-service to the rule of law and accountability thereof erodes the credibility of governance that it desperately needs.