European Foundation for South Asian Studies said that the composition of the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government is a glaring example of the military’s reach in the Federal Cabinet. Key portfolios such as Finance, Interior, Commerce, Defence Production, Railways and Institutional Reforms are held by individuals with links to the Military. Ex-military personnel are the chief secretaries of four provinces in Pakistan. Pakistan is perhaps the only country in the world where the Army runs and controls many business ventures

Amsterdam: Military in Pakistan has strengthened its hold over the government and its interference in matters of governance has gone far beyond the traditional realms of national security and foreign policy.

According to a European foreign policy think tank, the military has strengthened its hold over other aspects of State rule, including finance, commerce, interior, railways, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and even media management.

The EFSAS further said that the composition of the Imran Khan-led Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is a glaring example of the military’s reach in the Federal Cabinet.

“Key portfolios such as Finance, Interior, Commerce, Defense Production, Railways and Institutional Reforms are held by individuals with established links to the Military,” it said.

Appointment of Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa (Retd) As 'Information Adviser'

The hold of the military on Pakistan became clearer when Prime Minister Imran Khan removed his information advisor Firdaus Ashiq Awan, a civilian nominee of the military and replaced him with Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Asim Saleem Bajwa who was the Director-General of the military's media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations Pakistan (ISPR).

Awan was removed following the PTI government’s inept handling of the COVID-19 crisis.

The EFSAS report further says induction of the former Pakistan military spokesman into the federal ministry signifies the “thirst of the military” to control the government's public narrative and information management in the prevailing uncertain times due to the coronavirus crisis.

Lt. Gen. Bajwa is also the Chairman of the CPEC Authority with the military controlling all the strategic projects.

Ex-Military Personnel Are The Chief Secretaries of Four Provinces In Pakistan

Federal ministers with ties with the military are Finance Advisor Abdul Hafeez Sheikh; Interior Minister Brigadier Ijaz Shah; Advisor on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood; Minister Defence Production Minister Zubaida Jalal; Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid; and Advisor on Institutional Reforms Ishrat Hussain.

After Imran Khan hesitated from enforcing strict Coronavirus lockdown due to economic fallout, the military went ahead and announced a lockdown as well as the creation of the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC), under Lt. Gen. Hamood-uz-Zaman Khan, to oversee the implementation of COVID-19 policy.

Another example of military intervention is that ex-military personnel are the chief secretaries of four provinces in Pakistan, including mineral-rich Punjab and Baluchistan, said ANI quoting the report. 

Pakistan is perhaps the only country in the world where the Army has interests in business ventures with military-run The Fauji Foundation running projects which include sugar mills, cereal and corn, natural gas, plastics, fertilisers, cement, power, education and healthcare and as per verified foreign sources, is worth around USD 20 billion.

The Pakistani Army’s hold and reach in the country over the civil administration have earned it the name of a “Parallel State”.