Dismissal of General Jehangir Karamat Nawaz Sharif

however, political scientists , critics studied policies noted prime minister, sharif ruthlessly established control on country, including military. in october 1998, sharif forced , fired general karamat on serious issues on national security council disputes. dismissal of general karamat least popular decision in sharif s prime ministerial ship, , approval ratings plummeted. military lawyers , civilian law experts saw step clear violation of pakistan constitution , clear violation of military justice code. media minister syed mushahid hussain , later prime minister himself justified actions on national , international media:

in democratic society, chief of army staff , chairman joint chiefs talk government that? happened general macarthur? mr. harry truman did not waste time. pakistan becoming normal democratic society.

political scientist dr. samina ahmed of defence , strategic studies department noted since re-elect in 1997 , success of passing constitutional amendments, prime minister sharif began abuse powers since then. later quoted that:

during time, sharif powerful prime minister.... since country s independence. power tangible when can exercise it. in pakistan, (nawaz) government doesn t seem capable of exercising it.

the relieve of general karamat heated issue discussed senior government ministers. most-senior , former treasury minister sartaj aziz gave vehement criticism , showed opposition prime minister making move. writing thesis in book, between dreams , realities: milestones in pakistan s history, aziz maintained: blunder of firing of general karamatt; others blame nawaz sharif many mistakes made. in view, serious of these mistakes nawaz sharif s decision remove general jehangir karamat chief of army staff in october 1998 . aziz extremely confident , chief of general staff lieutenant-general ali kuli khan appointed chief of army staff based on seniority, merit, among competent officer, , next in seniority general karamat.

however, after being persuaded younger brother , (also of current) chief minister of punjab province shahbaz sharif , close friend nisar ali khan, appoint general musharraf next chief of army staff, despite lack of seniority. came shock in media , opposition, aziz sent recommendation appoint either lieutenant-general ali kuli khan or admiral fasih bokhari chairman joint chiefs of staff committee, redress injustice done both officers.

prime minister sharif took recommendation appointed general musharraf chairman of joint chiefs after accepting request of shahbaz sharif. appointing general musharraf chairman of joint chiefs, plummeted mandate in public after headlines in media made, opposition gave intense criticism sharif unable countered or justified actions public. senior minister, sartaj aziz, expressed displeased after marking that: sharif committed blunder, failing recognize despite heavy mandate, not advisable him dismiss (two) army chiefs in less year. in doing sharif had made serious of these blunders after relieving [general] karamatt, yet, (an) unforgettable mistake never able cover damage afterwords... , sartaj aziz noted.

after sharif approved controversial appointment of general musharraf chairman joint chiefs of staff committee, pillars of silent hostility , resentment built between chief of naval staff admiral fasih bokhari during kargil war, admiral bokhari gave rogue , grave criticism prime minister yet faced. on 6 october 1999, admiral bokhari abruptly resigned navy when televised media news reached him prime minister nawaz sharif appointed chief of army staff general pervez musharraf chairman joint chiefs of staff committee. bokhari reached prime minister secretariat , lodged loud protest against musharraf , nawaz sharif bokhari considered musharraf junior officer him. admiral s resignation made public domain , sharif accepted resignation of admiral bokhari onwards.