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Prodded by the military, Pakistan’s rulers established a security council Monday to give the army an official role in running the country.
Military dictators have ruled Pakistan for half of its 49-year history. The last one, Gen. Mohammed Zia-ul Haq, died in a 1988 plane crash. Since then, the army has retained behind-the-scenes influence on civilian governments.
With the establishment of the Council for Defense and National Security, Pakistan’s army for the first time will be openly advising the government.
The new council’s members include the president, prime minister, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, and the army, navy and air force chiefs. The panel was formed less than a month before Feb. 3 general elections.
