Contentious Dismissal

Given Field Marshal Asim Munir’s intense hatred for former Prime Minister and Tehreek-e-Insaf [PTI] chief Imran Khan, the extinction of the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [KP] was expected. And when this happened, the only thing people asked about Islamabad’s [or to be more precise, Rawalpindi’s] decision to suspend the KP government and impose Governor rule in this province was, why did it take so much time?
Speaking at a news conference, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar claimed that “The fundamental grounds for imposition of emergency are law and order, fight against terrorism, and to save innocent people from the dreadful consequences of terrorist activities.” A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office was however more specific and cited the “provincial government’s deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism,” which is undoubtedly an extremely serious allegation that justifies the KP government’s suspension.

Unconvincing Allegations

PTI has governed KP ever since 2013, which unambiguously indicates the enduring confidence the public has in this party and the suspended dispensation's popularity can be gauged by the fact that it came to power with an impressive two-third majority. The people of KP have been bearing the brunt of the ongoing Pakistan army versus TTP battle for years in which thousands have died while many more have been left maimed and seriously injured, and so, if the PTI government was in cahoots with terrorists, the locals definitely wouldn't have voted it to power. That’s why PTI’s impressive and more than two-and-a-half decade track record of uninterrupted public confidence clearly disproves Islamabad’s uncorroborated allegation regarding the KP government’s “deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism.”
Like all others, the KP government must definitely be having certain shortcomings. But Tarar stating that all cabinet members were sanguine “that the PTI government in KP is hand in glove with the terrorists,” and even calling it “the B-team of TTP, without furnishing any proof thereof is something downright despicable and smacks of brazen authoritarianism betraying Rawalpindi’s tacit orders for the suspension.

Disengagement against Terrorism

In August 2022, Dir, Waziristan and Swat districts of KP witnessed widespread protests against the growing presence of armed TTP fighters in these areas. The KP government discussed this alarming issue in the provincial assembly, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif acknowledged this menacing development in the National Assembly [NA] terming it a “national issue.” He also raised serious apprehensions regarding the success of the army led negotiations with TTP.
However, it was the Pakistan army that played down this menacing development.
Just two days after Asif’s statement, ISPR issued a statement mentioning that “During the past few days, a misperception about the alleged presence of [a] large number of proscribed organisation TTP’s armed members in Swat Valley has been created on social media.” Asserting that this report was found to be “grossly exaggerated and misleading,” ISPR nevertheless accepted that while “Presence of [a] small number of armed men on few mountain tops between Swat and Dir has been observed.” However, it ruled out any threat to the local population on this account by adding that these “armed men” were “located far away from population.”
There can be no two views that the Pakistan army’s pathetic response to such an important occurrence is unpardonable. When the people had taken to the streets against the growing presence of TTP terrorists in KP and the politicians raised red flags, how could the Pakistan army sweep this rapidly burgeoning national security threat under the carpet so casually? Isn’t Rawalpindi’s irresponsible action of downplaying this serious danger and inaction tantamount to “deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism”?
But no one dared question Rawalpindi- either then or even now.

Clutching at Straws

Field Marshal Munir has tried every trick in the book against TTP. He has ordered airstrikes, used drones indiscriminately and even invoked religious edicts to strike fear of divine punishment on the Day of Judgment in a bid to induce their surrender to no avail. While the Pakistan army keeps announcing spectacular claims of success against TTP, it remains the most deadly anti-Pakistan terrorist group in existence.
Data released by Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies [PICSS] reveals that in the last month alone, TTP carried out 225 attacks-the highest in 12 years. This goes to prove that the field marshal’s counter-terrorism strategy of using brute force against TTP hasn’t been as successful as Rawalpindi claims. Conversely, uncontrolled drone strikes are causing significant civilian casualties while military operations and forced population displacement are further fuelling anti-army sentiments in KP.
PTI’s claim that Islamabad imposed Governor rule in KP to thwart the government backed protest march seeking the release of its chief from jail may be a bit too farfetched. Yet, even though Field Marshal Munir may have orchestrated the temporarily removal of the PTI chief from the scene by manipulating the judiciary to imprison him, the ‘failed marshal' knows very well that his nemesis may be down but is certainly not out. And so while TTP and armed Baloch groups can wait, the potential threat from PTI needs to be addressed on priority.
Playing the counter-terrorism card is a justifiable excuse to camouflage his plan to totally emaciate PTI by uprooting it from the last stronghold of KP. Al Jazeera has quoted PTI leader Taimur Jhagra saying, “Of course the provincial [KP] government was fighting terrorism. We own the fight against terrorism, individually and collectively. If the issue was terrorism, then Balochistan should have had a state of emergency before KP.”
Isn’t this argument logical?

Power Game

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan [HRCP] has warned that imposition of Governor rule in KP runs the risk of “further deepening political tensions and undermining democratic processes.” However, since Field Marshal Munir has already stolen the peoples’ mandate by manipulating the 2024 elections, the adverse effects of Governor rule in KP will have literary no impact on the already compromised military-controlled hybrid regime of governance in Pakistan.
Field Marshal Munir pitched for turning Pakistan into a “Hard State” and this has happened. He wished for the power to do things his way, and the 27th constitutional amendment has given him unbridled authority to do so, along with lifelong immunity against legal persecution as icing on the cake. He wanted to destroy the last vestiges of PTI dominance, and by using a pliant legislature to misuse the constitution and suspend the PTI government in KP, he has accomplished this.
While the field marshal has excelled on the personal front by becoming Pakistan’s most powerful personality, his professional achievements have been rather disappointing.
By carrying out airstrikes inside Afghanistan that have given Islamabad no political or military advantages, he has pushed Pakistan into a state of war against its Western neighbour. By signing the Mecca Defence Agreement which practically provides no meaningful military advantage, he’s only further sharpened Pakistan-Iran animosity. Lastly, his Hinduphobic rant followed by the dastardly killing of tourists in Pahalgam by Pakistan based terrorists cost his countrymen dear as New Delhi promptly put the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance after this incident.
Violence levels in both KP and Balochistan have surged abnormally ever since Field Marshal took charge and despite his boasts and assurances, things are only going from bad to worse. And though he may blame New Delhi and Kabul for the same, the harsh reality is that his well equipped modern army which consumes a lion’s share of the national budget has been unable to subdue terrorists/ freedom fighters despite being given a free hand to use any type of force as well as indulge in criminal acts like enforced disappearances and extra judicial killings.
With KP under Governor rule, the Pakistan army will now have a free hand without any legislative oversight and this increases the exposure of locals to physical harm that Rawalpindi either outrightly denies or when cornered, glibly passes off as 'unavoidable collateral damage'. As Field Marshal Munir will now not have any excuse to blame the provincial government for the failures of his army, the pressure to show results may force the rank and file to do wrong things, and this is the real danger.
Will he deliver or will imposition of Governor rule in KP prove to be end of Field Marshal Munir’s dream run is a question that time will answer.

Email:---------------------nileshkunwar.56@gmail.com