Why are we in the habit of branding any development as conspiracy?


Whenever any development occurs in Pakistan, unfortunately our political culture has developed in such a manner that we find it easy to brand it as a conspiracy. Earlier any such move was considered as an American conspiracy, and now it’s ‘military establishment conspiracy’. Similarly, social media is abuzz with conflicting views that his appointment was recommended, an allusion to the GHQ. Contrarily, it is a norm across the world to appoint retired military officials at different positions. It is not surprising at all. For instance, PPP government appointed general retired Naseer Ullah Babar as the interior minister, PML-N government appointed general retired Nasir Khan Janjua as the National Security Advisor, and PTI dispensation appointed former Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) general retired Asim Saleem Bajwa as the chairman CPEC Authority and now as the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information. Undoubtedly, it is prerogative of prime minister to appoint whomever he trusts on different portfolios as permissible by law.

Additionally, in America, Jim Matis, Mark Esper, John Kirby, etc. are also retired military officials and they were/have been appointed on key posts.

To Asim Saleem Bajwa’s credit, he raised the ISPR to the most advanced levels keeping in view the role of information in modern era. It was during the tenure of general Athar Abbas that ISPR became a proactive organisation. His successors not only faced dynamic challenges but also tackled them effective that was at times acknowledged by their adversaries.


Here what should really have been a legitimate question: why so many non-elected special assistants in a parliamentary system? Such large number of special assistants are suited to the presidential system but not to the parliamentary system. Sadly, no detractor criticised the appointment on these grounds rather based on the general’s military background. The retired general must be criticised during the performance of his job responsibilities and in case mistakes are committed in the process. Before that, it is too early to criticise.

Let the weak democracy evolve organically.