Constitutional Duties of the Armed Forces of Pakistan

In the Constitution of Pakistan the Armed Forces have been dealt with in PART XII, appropriately headed: Miscellaneous. It happens to be the last part of our Constitution, just before annex, schedules and amendments.

It is Chapter 2 of this Part that specifically deals with the Armed Forces.

Under Article 243 the Constitution clearly states that the Command of Armed Forces shall be in the civilian hands.

243. Command of Armed Forces.

"(1) The Federal Government shall have control and command of the Armed Forces."

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Under Article 244 the Constitution makes very clear that every member of the Armed Forces shall take an oath prescribed in the Third Schedule. This oath, too, happens to be the last oath in this schedule.

244. Oath of Armed Forces.

"Every member of the Armed Forces shall make oath in the form set out in the Third Schedule."

THIRD SCHEDULE

Oaths of Office

Members Of The Armed Forces [Article 244]

Here is the oath every member of the Armed Forces take in which every single member says that he will NOT engage himself in any political activities WHATSOEVER.

"(In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.)
I, ____________, do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan and uphold the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan which embodies the will of the people, that I will not engage myself in any political activities whatsoever and that I will honestly and faithfully serve Pakistan in the Pakistan Army (or Navy or Air Force) as required by and under the law.

May Allah Almighty help and guide me (A'meen)."

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Now let me ask General Musharraf and his Corps Commanders that if they solemnly took this oath? Have they not gone against their oath by engaging in the political activities?

It is them, and no one else, who are a "small minority" of "obstructionist forces" and anti-State "opportunists" that have waged a "malicious campaign" of "serving their vested interests and agenda by flouting the rule of law".

Go back to your constitutional duties of defending the countries and keeping your oath and let civilians run the country and obey them.