“History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.” (Napoleon Bonaparte)

Once Pakistan came into being, there was a clear danger facing the new nation-state that made the rulers build up their defense at the expense of other sectors. Therefore, right from the day of its establishment, the army turned out to be a very powerful organization, and its leaders were regarded as strong players in the ruling system of Pakistan. 

The sudden move of removing the army chief in his absence by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gave the army a chance to take over the civilian government on 12th October 1999 in Pakistan without any violence. At this time, in contrast to previous coups, one of the most important factors behind the coup was the confrontation of Nawaz Sharif with the Army.

Civil-Military Divide

The conflict arose between the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, and General Pervez Musharraf following the Kargil Conflict of 1999 since the military felt that Nawaz Sharif had handled the crisis poorly since he had decided to withdraw the troops under Pakistani command following international pressure by the U.S. Upon the arrival of Musharraf’s plane near Pakistani airspace, Nawaz Sharif ordered the aircraft not to land on Pakistani soil. The aim was to give a chance to change the leadership in the military. 

The quick action of some military factions that supported Musharraf prevented this plan. After landing successfully, the army occupied strategic places such as government offices and communication centers in Islamabad. Through his broadcast address, Musharraf stated, “Emergency rule is now in effect, while the constitution has been put on hold, together with the dismissal of the National Assembly. The reason behind this takeover is that he needed to safeguard the nation against the effects of corruption and economic chaos.”

Post-Coup Challenges 

Mao Zedong once noted, “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” As soon as the military took control of Pakistan, the negative international reaction towards the military regime began. The Commonwealth of Nations excluded Pakistan from its membership. The sanctions against Pakistan, which were introduced in May 1998 after the nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan, became even stricter on the American side. Thus, Musharraf displayed his commitment to democracy. Nevertheless, everything changed after the September 11 attacks. 

Yet when the legality of the coup d’état was challenged in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the general ordered an oath of office, which meant that judges either had to take another oath or step down. Most of the judges took the new oath to retain their position, while nineteen judges, among whom were six Supreme Court judges, refused to take the oath and left their positions. Thereafter, General Musharraf appointed compliant judges who would support the government in the future and save it from any legal proceedings. Finally, on 12 May 2000, the Supreme Court, by way of some petitions, confirmed the military coup on the grounds of the ‘Doctrine of State Necessity.’

Institutional........

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