The changeover in the command of Pakistan Army confirms two perceptions. The Army is no longer in the business of taking over the governance of the country as ... in the past. But that does not mean that it can overcome its appetite to call the shots. Gen. Jahangir Karamat, the former chief of army staff, deliberately expressed political opinions and revived a proposal that has repeatedly been made by the Army's spokesman ... in the past that there should be a sharing of power between the elected governments and the generals. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif challenged Karamat and Karamat had to go. The inability of the Army to takeover has been conclusively demonstrated. Mr. Sharif has fought off or eased out all important functionaries of state, which could checkmate him. He got rid of the Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah through highly questionable means that has left many a loose thread.

He later forced President Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, after stripping him of all extraordinary powers invested in the Eighth Amendment in a lightening operation, to resign. He has now got rid of chief of army staff who dared to criticise him. Academically it could be said that ... even in parliamentary politics, the buck has to stop at just one place; there should be no confusion about centre of true power.

(Sharif) is perceived by many to be pursuing the goal of concentrating all powers in himself. His style of ruling is highly personalised. Many stories are current that all major decisions are taken in an esoteric manner, not even ministers, much less the ruling party, is generally consulted on major decisions ... The Prime Minister appear to decide himself on all major subjects ...

But critics say the purpose of the Shariat Bill is to enable Mr. Sharif to concentrate more powers in his own hands by acquiring the absolute right to rule by decree. (Source: The Times of India, 10 October, 1998)