MONITOR Civil-Military Relations in Pakistan February 2018 Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency PILDAT Monitor CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS IN PAKISTAN February 2018 In this Issue This monitor is meant to identify key developments during the month on Civil Military Relations in Pakistan with selected high-profile international developments included 1. Troops to be sent to Saudi Arabia occasionally 2. Judiciary backs Army: Nawaz Sharif Troops to be sent to Saudi Arabia 3. National Security Committee meets twice in February 4. Defence Minister visits Soldiers 5. COAS Directs discontinuing use of Watan Cards for Tribals 6. Continuing Role of COAS in Foreign Affairs 7. President AJK meets COAS 8. Corps Commanders' Conference 9. Commander V Corps inspects Thar Coal Project 10. Crackdown on Fake Armed Forces Accounts 11. Students engaging with the Army 12. NAB wants name of ex-ISI Chief placed on ECL From Left to Right: Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa; Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; 13. Maldives Chief Justice arrested Chairman Senate, Senator Raza Rabbani; Minister of Defence, Mr. Khurram Dastgir Khan 14. Army Chiefs changed in KSA and Sudan On February 15, 2018, the Inter-Services Public Relations announced that Pakistan Army 15. Arms Procurement Scandal in contingent is being sent to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) on training and advise mission Nigeria and that these or troops already there will not be employed outside KSA, adding that the Pakistan Army maintains bilateral security cooperation with many other GCC/regional countries.1 The announcement came after the meeting of Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa with Mr. Nawaf Saeed Al-Maliki, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).2 Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff had made a three day visit to KSA and UAE in October 2017 and more recently, in February 2018 where he met with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.3 Saudi Arabia has been involved in an active conflict with the Houthi rebels in Yemen since 2015 when it first requested Pakistan's support. However, Pakistan opted to remain neutral in the conflict through a unanimous resolution of the Parliament.4 The refusal to send troops had resulted in diplomatic stresses in Pakistan's relationship with KSA and UAE. Questions were raised in both houses of Pakistan's Parliament over the 'Army's unilateral decision' to send troops to KSA especially after the 2015 Parliamentary resolution against it as the Federal Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs were asked to give policy statements on the issue. 5 While speaking in the Senate, Federal Minister of Defence Mr. Khurram Dastgir Khan, MNA, said that the Prime Minister has approved deputing 1000 additional Pakistani troops 1. ISPR Press Release, Official Website, February 15, 2018, as accessed on March 02, 2018 at https://www.ispr.gov.pk/front/main.asp?o=t-press_release&id=4565&cat=army#pr_link4566 2. ISPR Press Release, Official Website, February 15, 2018, as accessed on March 02, 2018 at Pakistan Institute of Legislative https://www.ispr.gov.pk/front/main.asp?o=t-press_release&id=4565&cat=army#pr_link4566 Development And Transparency 3. Gen Bajwa holds talks with Saudi crown prince, THE NATION, February 02, 2018, as accessed on March 02, 2018, at https://nation.com.pk/02-Feb-2018/gen-bajwa-holds-talks-with-saudi-crown-prince 4. Parliament decides to remain neutral in Saudi-led Yemen war, THE NATION, April 10, 2015, as accessed on E-mail: [email protected] March 02, 2018, at https://tribune.com.pk/story/867500/resolution-expected-on-yemen-crisis-as-joint- Website: www.pildat.org session-of-parliament-resumes/ 5. For details, please see NA, Senate chide govt over troops for Saudi Arabia, Dawn, February 17, 2018: https://www.dawn.com/news/1389964 02 PILDAT Monitor CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS IN PAKISTAN February 2018 to Saudi Arabia for training and advisory purposes while Pakistan has an existing number of 1,600 Pakistani troops already on deputation in KSA. 6 It is unclear whether the decision of sending additional troops to KSA has been discussed in the National Security Committee. Judiciary backs Army: Nawaz Sharif While addressing a Seminar on 'The Future of Democracy in Pakistan' in Karachi on February 02, 2018, former Prime Minister, Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif criticized the Judiciary to be supportive of the Military Rules. He said that “…whenever democracy has come under attack, some sections of the judiciary — instead of standing with the people, the Constitution and democratic rule — have supported dictators.” He also said that the Judiciary has “favoured the doctrine of necessity, and certain sections of the judiciary have used such theories to give legitimacy to martial laws.” 7 Later, on February 19, 2018, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, speaking in the National Assembly called for a final debate in the Parliament on who has the final say in legislation. Political leaders from the opposition Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif addressing a Seminar on “The Future of Democracy in welcomed the Prime Minister's proposal for debate. Mr. Pakistan” in Karachi on February 02, 2018 Mahmood Khan Achakzai, head of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) alleged interference by the Armed Forces, and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the Senate elections, as well as playing a major role in change of government in Balochistan. He said, “I appeal to the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Army Chief. If you are loyal to the oath you have taken, then stop interfering into politics.” 8 National Security Committee meets twice in February In a welcome development, two meetings of the National Security Committee (NSC) were held during the month on February 02 and February 19, 2018. The crucial National Security Committee which has been established in Pakistan with the National Security Division as its Secretariat for the first time in 2013, had seen dormancy as it only met 10 times under former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in nearly 4 years and maintained a poor average of 2.5 meetings per year. Prime Minister Abbasi is maintaining an average of monthly meetings of NSC as the committee is now meeting more regularly. While the meeting held on February 2 reportedly discussed the measures taken by Provincial Governments towards fulfilling the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in addition to regional relations,9 the NSC meeting held on February 27, 2018, discussed Foreign Minister's trip to Russia as well as other issues.10 Chaired by Prime Minister Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the NSC meetings were joined by the members including Federal Ministers of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Interior, Advisors to the Prime Minister on Finance and National Security, Chairman JCSC and Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force. 6. Sparks in Senate as govt refuses details on troops to KSA, THE NATION, February 20, 2018, as accessed on March 02, 2018, at https://nation.com.pk/20-Feb- 2018/sparks-in-senate-as-govt-refuses-details-on-troops-to-ksa 7. 'Future of Pakistan's democracy uncertain,' Nawaz says, DAWN, February 02, 2018, as accessed on March 02, 2018, at https://www.dawn.com/news/13868448 8. PM takes PML-N row with judiciary to parliament, DAWN, February 20, 2018, as accessed on March 02, 2018, at https://www.dawn.com/news/1390490 9. Prime Minister Office, Official Website, February 02, 2018, as accessed on March 08, 2018 http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=2193 10. Prime Minister Office, Official Website, February 27, 2018, as accessed on March 05, 2018 at http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=2213 03 PILDAT Monitor CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS IN PAKISTAN February 2018 Defence Minister visits Soldiers On February 06, Minister of Defence, Mr. Khurram Dastagir Khan, MNA, visited injured soldiers at CMH Peshawar. He also visited the home of Shaheed Captain Jazib Rehman in Kohat. 11 COAS Directs discontinuing use of Watan Cards for Tribals On February 15, 2018, the ISPR announced that the “COAS directs for facilitation to Tribal brethren in FATA. Watan Cards earlier issued as ID document for payment of compensation to TDPs no more required. Henceforth CNIC will be taken as ID document.” 12 This has perhaps meant that temporary displaced persons (TDPs) of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) are allowed by the COAS to use computerised national identity cards (CNICs) as the documents of identifications for payments of compensation instead of Watan Cards. It must be noted that the Watan Cards system, developed by NADRA in supporting the Minister of Defence, Mr. Khurram Dastgir Khan meeting an injured Government of Pakistan, has been used to provide financial assistance to TDPs soldier at CMH Peshawar as well as facilitate rehabilitation of people affected by natural calamities. Earlier, journalists from South Waziristan visited the ISPR and urged to end Watan Card system, and to allow tribal people to use CNICs instead. In a meeting with DG ISPR, who briefed them about the on-ground situation and military's de-mining efforts, 13 the visiting journalists also raised various concerns including over the 'extra-judicial murder' of Naqeebullah Mahsud, failure in arrest of Senior Superintendent of Police Rao Answar, as well as arrest of local tribesman after a blast by factions opposing government. DG ISPR had reportedly assured the journalists to forward their demands to the COAS. Continuing Role of COAS in Foreign Affairs The COAS continues to play an active role in the diplomatic domain. Following is an account of his diplomatic interactions during February 2018: i. Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, H. E. Mr. Mehdi Honardoost, called on the COAS at the GHQ on February 12, reportedly to discuss Pakistan-Iran border management and matters of mutual interest.14 ii.