That the army under General Ashfaq Kiyani is serious about removing itself from Pakistan’s political theatre was revealed by the COAS’s order for officers to avoid contact with politicians. General Kiyani also made it known that he is seriously looking to bridge the civil-military divide in announcing military officers would be gradually phased out from civilian posts.
This notwithstanding, the military has not absolved itself from its responsibilities of providing internal security while safeguarding Pakistan’s borders, and over 80,000 men are to be deployed around the country “to maintain order” over the course of the 2008 General Elections. However, the ISPR public relations director general, Major General Athar Abbas reassured the press that “The troops will be deployed only outside polling stations”, with special vigilance given to the more “sensitive” polling stations.
This has been necessitated by the continuing violence which pervades, particularly in the NWFP, and is a move welcomed by nearly all of the contending parties and individuals in the light of the assassination of the late Benazir Bhutto and unabated wave of bombings that have taken so many civilian lives wherever there have been political gatherings.
The consensus of public opinion is that without the safety net provided by the army, the elections would witness abuse and anarchy would prevail