Power of deep state is declining, Dr Shabir Choudhry
London 22
July 2018
Much has been written about State and why human beings need a state.
However, not much has been written about ‘deep state’. The deep state can be
called a secret hand of the state, which functions as eyes and ears of the
state.
However, in case of Pakistan, deep state is also known as a state
within a state. This deep state acts with impunity; and functions at its will
to run and control many functions of the government. With their unchecked power,
influence and privileges, they like to control civil society, political parties
and the government.
It is believed that KGB was ‘a state within a state’ in the Soviet Union. The power and influence of KGB are now
enjoyed by FSB in Russia. May be one can say, FSB has now more power and
influence, because former KGB officers are in government in Russia. They have control
over every aspect of the Russian society. During era of Soviet Russia, there
was one KGB officer for every 428 citizens; now Russia has one FSB officer for
every 297 citizens.
In other words, Pakistan is not the only country where secret
agencies control society. In any case, the Cambridge Dictionary defines deep state as:
“organisations
such as military, police, or political groups that are said to work secretly in
order to protect particular interests and to rule a country without being
elected.”
‘a state in
which military, bureaucracy, the security establishment and the intelligence
community undermine the writ of an elected government. State within a state is
also a categorisation of deep state in which power is wielded by invisible
forces who bypass civilian government in the formulation and implementation of
key domestic or foreign policy matters’.1
People like Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of United Kingdom believes
that Civil Service is a deep state. He once commented on civil service in these
words:
"You cannot underestimate how much they
believe it’s their job to actually run the country and to resist the changes put
forward by people they dismiss as ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ politicians.
They genuinely see themselves as the true guardians of the national interest,
and think that their job is simply to wear you down and wait you out."
2
Different people may have different
definition of the deep state; however, one thing is common that deep state is
always influential, and knows which string to pull in order to obtain the
desired results. They like to present themselves as patriots and commit acts
legal or illegal in name of ‘national interest’.
Professor Moonis Ahmar thinks, no matter from
which angle you look at:
‘Pakistan is a deep state because the writ of
civilian government is fragile on matters which are crucial and critical in
nature ranging from foreign policy issues related to India, Afghanistan, United
States, Iran, Saudi Arabia and China. Nuclear weapon’s program of Pakistan is
another area where deep state has enormous clout. If any civilian government
tries to cross red line drawn by the deep state on foreign policy issues
mentioned above, it would mean collision. National Security and patriotism are
the pretexts which are used by a deep state to sustain its influence’. 3
The deep state
does not want strong leaders or strong parties who can challenge their
authority. They like to have weak and vulnerable leaders; and weak and fragile
governments which can be easily controlled and manipulated. When their
appointed leader starts asserting himself, the deep state gets anxious; and
starts pulling and pushing different levers of power to weaken the ambitious
leader.
If the elected
leader shows signs of obstinacy, then the deep state ensures that the democratically elected government does not function smoothly.
They propagate against that leader as being a ‘security risk’; and a serious
threat to ‘national interests’.
For this purpose, print and electronic
media is instructed what to do and what to say. Apart from that, their proxies
and army of ‘foot soldiers’ on social media start a campaign against that
leader. If that leader agrees to make a U turn, then he is allowed to continue
until the next elections; and if he refuses to sign on the dotted line, then he
will either face gallows or face fate of Nawaz Sharif.
The deep state ensures that democracy
does not get stronger. They are against pluralism, right of expression and
strong institutions. They only want one institution to be strong and that is
the institution of army. They strengthen their secret agencies and establish a
class of people almost above the law. This class is composed of bureaucracy, military,
security establishment and their business partners. This class helps to control
people and deprive them of their fundamental rights.
Pakistan army is strong as ever, but its control is
weakening. According to some commentators, there are clear signs of cracks in
its Command and Control system; and that is very worrying to many in South Asia
and beyond.
Similarly, their dreaded secret agency, nowadays known as,
Department of Agriculture or Khalahi Makhlooq is more resourceful and stronger
than ever before. However, despite growing list of the missing people, more and
more people are openly defying them. People openly and courageously accuse them
of wrong doings.
Serving Islamabad
High Court Judge, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui has come
out openly, and has directly accused ISI for various wrong doings, and even
meddling with legal and political matters. He was so courageous that he did not
say Department of Agriculture or Khalahi Makhlooq.
It is amazing that, perhaps for the first time,
people of Rawalpindi and other parts of Punjab have spoken out against the
Pakistan army and ISI. They shouted slogans like Pakistan army murdabad and ISI
murdabad. That is unprecedented. In the past, people of KPK, Sindh and
Balochistan made accusations against army and the ISI, but people of Punjab
remained quiet, and very often accused these people of being unpatriotic and
traitors.
Social
media is also full of bold criticism against Pakistan army and ISI. I think,
still it is not too late. They can resolve the impasse, provided they abandon
past policies and adopt policies that are suitable to demands of 2018.
Writer is a renowned writer and author of
many books. He is also a senior leader of UKPNP and Chairman South Asia Watch,
London.
Email: Drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com Twitter: @Drshabir
References:
2.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_within_a_state#cite_note-9
3.
Professor Moonis
Ahmar, Daily Pakistan 5 January 2018
No comments:
Post a Comment