Military officials in civilian posts asked to discard uniform

In keeping with existing rules, army officials deputed in civil departments have been asked to discard uniform and adopt civilian clothes from the end of this month.

A letter issued from the Army General Headquarters specifically asks military men working in the civilian sector to follow this rule, and ensure they do not go to work in army uniform.

Over 1,000 armed services personnel were posted to jobs previously held by civilians between 1999 and 2002, the period of General Musharraf's tenure as military head of state. This provoked widespread outrage, especially as mass downsizing at all levels continued in the private and public centre.

Watchdog bodies, including the prestigious Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) pointed out that the postings far exceeded those made under the late dictator General Zia ul Haq, who was widely accused of militarising society.

Columnists and watchdog bodies have also pointed out that in fact the scale of militarisation was far higher this time, with civilians pushed out of more and more top jobs in the bureaucracy and the semi-autonomous sector.

As the outcry over this grew, with comments also made in assemblies set up after October 2002, over 500 military men have been retired from civilian posts, but a sizeable number still remains in place in the education sector, health sector, administrative sector and so on.

The orders to discard the uniform, while in keeping with rules, also appear to be a move to disquiet fears that the military is "taking over" sections of society once dominated by civilians.

An establishment division report says, about 1,027 military officers have been inducted on civilian posts in different ministries, divisions and Pakistani missions abroad after the October 12, 1999 military takeover.

They include 104 serving and retired lieutenant-generals, major-generals or equivalent ranks from other services, 160 brigadier or officials of equivalent ranks from Navy and Air Force.

Military officers are working on civilian posts in almost all sectors, including communications, education, diplomacy, water and electricity management, information, post office, jails, local bodies, think tanks, industrial production, shipping, minority affairs, population welfare, health, agriculture, railways, highways, housing, labour and manpower, social and women development, law and justice and sub-sectors of sports from cricket to hockey.