Islamabad, February 1; The Dialogue Group on Civil-Military Relations, facilitated by PILDAT, has welcomed various instructions and steps announced by the new military leadership to distance the military from civilian and political domains.

The Group emphasised the need to identify effective measures to sustain and institutionalise permanent disengagement of the military from the political sphere. The Group also examined different possibilities to extend and broaden the civil-military dialogue.

The Group reiterated its position that the pillars and institutions of the State should function strictly according to the Constitution. The Armed Forces should be subject to civilian control as expressed in the will of a democratically elected Parliament. The stability, progress and prosperity of Pakistan required the rule of law, genuinely free and fair elections, an independent and restored judiciary, a vibrant civil society and a free media.

The Group viewed with concern the expanding militancy in the tribal areas and growing violence in other parts of the country and stressed the need for a review of the policy and strategy. A sub-committee of the Group was created to analyse and closely monitor the unfolding situation in the tribal and other areas in order to formulate options and recommendations. The Group plans to present these recommendations at its next meeting planned to be held shortly after the February 18 Elections.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Sartaj Aziz, Former Senator and Federal Minister while other members included Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Asad Durrani, Former DG ISI/MI; Mr. Javed Jabbar, Former Senator & Minister; Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Moinuddin Haider, Former Governor/Interior Minister; Mr. Mujib-ur-Rehman Shami, Editor-in-Chief, Daily Pakistan; Dr. Parvez Hassan, Partner Hassan & Hassan Advocates; Mr. Rustam Shah Mohmand, Former Chief Secretary; Mr. Shafqat Mahmood, Former Senator & Minister; Mr. Shahid Hamid, Former Governor Punjab; Brig. (Retd.) Shaukat Qadir, Former Vice President IPRI; Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Talat Masood, Former Federal Secretary/Defence Analyst; Mr. Tasneem Noorani, Former Federal Secretary Interior; Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Executive Director and Ms. Aasiya Riaz, Joint Director PILDAT.