Shahbaz Sharif has become the new Prime Minister of Pakistan. Discussions have started regarding the impact of his arrival on India. After toppling Imran Khan’s government through a no-confidence motion, Shahbaz made a statement about India that we want peace with India, but this is not possible without a solution to the Kashmir issue. It is believed that they will not even try to bring about a change in the original attitude of Pakistan.
Of course, he has been an advocate of starting the conversation. Talks between India and Pakistan have come to a standstill during the era of Imran Khan. Organization like SAARC is lying dormant. All eyes are on whether Shahbaz will be able to open that gang. An important question is also arising about the role of Pakistan’s army and court in the game of government formation and spoilage. The army and the court have played an active role in the fall of Imran Khan’s government. Will Shahbaz be able to do something new in this regard?
sometimes sharp, sometimes soft
Shahbaz has given controversial statements many times regarding India and Kashmir. In April 2018, when elections were going on in Pakistan, Shahbaz had said at a rally, ‘Our blood is boiling. We will continue to make Kashmir a part of Pakistan. In the same year in Singapore, he said in reference to the meeting of US President and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, “If America and North Korea can return from the brink of nuclear attack, then there is no reason why India and Pakistan cannot.” can do.’ In 2015, Sharif had said that some fundamentalists in India do not want good relations with Pakistan.
Shahbaz Sharif visited India in 2013. Manmohan Singh was then the Prime Minister of India and Shahbaz the Chief Minister of the Punjab province of Pakistan. After meeting the Prime Minister, they talked about working together.
court intervention
After the intervention of the Supreme Court in Pakistan, a vote of no confidence was held in the National Assembly late on Saturday night, after which Imran Khan’s government fell. Even before this, the court has made the people in power there feel its power. The first coup took place in Pakistan in 1953. The office of the President was earlier that of the Governor-General. Ghulam Mohammad, sitting in this position, dismissed the government of the then Prime Minister Khwaja Nazimuddin, but he remained in his post due to the support of the Constituent Assembly. On 24 October 1954, Governor General Malik Ghulam Mohammad dissolved the Constituent Assembly to remove Injimuddin from his post. Then the Sindh High Court quashed the assembly’s decision.
court and army
In 1958, President Iskandar Mirza imposed martial law at the behest of Army Chief General Ayub Khan. 13 days later, Army Chief Ayub Khan declared himself the President. The court supported Ayub Khan. But in 1987, when Zia-ul-Haq removed Prime Minister Mohammad Khan Juneja from office, it was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Similarly the National Assembly was dissolved in 1990. Benazir Bhutto’s government had fallen. When the matter reached the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court had upheld the President’s decision. Nawaz Sharif was removed in 1993. The Supreme Court ruled in his favor.
He had to resign under pressure from the army. After this, in 1999, the then army chief Pervez Musharraf overthrew Nawaz Sharif. A secret meeting took place in Islamabad between Nawaz Sharif and the head of the intelligence agency, General Ziauddin. Together, both of them wanted to take steps against Pervez Musharraf. On 12 October 1999, Army Chief Pervez Musharraf overthrew the Nawaz Sharif government.
When this matter reached the Supreme Court, the court also called Parvez’s decision necessary for the country. In 2013, Nawaz Sharif filed a sedition case against Musharraf. In this case, on December 17, 2019, the Special Court of Peshawar sentenced Musharraf to death. Later, the Lahore High Court had declared the special court’s decision unconstitutional. In 2017, the matter reached the Supreme Court after Nawaz Sharif’s name cropped up in the Panama Papers corruption case. Sharif was sentenced to seven years in prison. Why the constitutional crisis
Pakistan is an Islamic nation. Because of this religion has dominated the constitution in Pakistan. Religious bigotry is considered a major reason for the constitutional crisis of Pakistan. From the time of General Zia-ul-Haq in Pakistan, the control of the army increased over the government. Since the role of the army has increased in Pakistan, it is difficult for the government to remain stable without the help of the army.
Pakistan’s foreign policy was to remain a follower of America after 1947. America used the Pakistani army and government for its own benefit. America gave financial help to the army, after which the politics of the army was penetrated on the American instigation. There are many unstable countries in the neighborhood of Pakistan – such as Afghanistan and Iran. It also directly affects the government of Pakistan.
what the experts say
Today the talk should be on Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and not on Kashmir. The situation in PoK is bad, the people there want to meet in India, it should be discussed.
- Major General (Retd) AK Siwach
After the arrival of Imran Khan, the relations between India and Pakistan became even more tense. After Shahbaz’s arrival, at least the way for talks can be opened. However, no significant impact is expected on the relationship between the two countries.
- Major General (Retd) Sanjay Meston