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India-Pakistan | ||||
Chaudhry: Armed forces must be subservient to civilian govt | ||||
2011-04-18 | ||||
Addressing the officers of Command and Staff College Quetta on their visit to the apex court, the chief justice blamed military interventions in politics for the stunted growth of democratic institutions and reminded the officers of their sworn oaths to preserve, protect and defend the constitution in addition to the frontiers of the nation. “If we are to be recognised as a civilised nation in the world, then we must have supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law,” said the chief justice, in a speech that laid out the history of civil-military relations with unusual candour. Chief Justice Iftikhar said the constitution itself manifestly states that all the executive and judicial authorities shall act in aid of the Supreme Court. The 1973 constitution introduced provisions pertaining to the command, oath and functions of the armed forces for the first time. The armed forces’ role has been clearly defined in Article 245 of the constitution which envisages that the armed forces shall, under the federal government’s directions defend Pakistan against external aggression or threat of war, and, subject to law, act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so.
“We did not have popularly or directly-elected legislatures from 1947 to 1970. This also retarded the political development of the state,” he added. But the chief justice also acknowledged the positive contributions of the military and its stature in the eyes of ordinary Pakistanis. He said the Pakistan Army has been regarded over the years as a highly disciplined and trained force.
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Posted by:Steve White |