Issue 45 Vol II, August 15, 2007

E D I T O R I A L

A Totalitarian Rule Must End

PAST many weeks have been significant for the march of democracy in Pakistan.  For the first time, the lawyers backed by civil society made that country’s autocratic ruler who combines the civilian presidency and with the position of the army chief eat dust. For decades the highest court had been meekly putting its stamp on anyone in uniform subverting democracy. No longer now. The Supreme Court and the pro rule of law movement succeeded in getting the nearly dismissed chief justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry back to his powerful position. The doctrine of necessity was thrown into dustbin, at least for the time being. The 1973 constitution should guide the destiny of the nation, although it has several drawbacks. President Pervez Musharraf now losing support not of the people of Pakistan, but even of a section of military is scared of rubbing the judiciary on the wrong side.

Last fortnight, amidst high drama and suspense in the garrisoned capital of Islamabad, Musharraf was also forced to abandon his plans to enforce emergency. He wanted  first to get elected as president from the present parliament and state legislatures whose life is almost over and then state manage an election  that to bring in another tamed parliament and state assemblies.  And, also he plans to bring back Peoples Party leader and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto as a surrogate prime minister and then happily rule the country with the blessings of his masters in Washington. The deal is already brokered and the only impediment is former Nawaz Sharif who is threatening to return to contest elections. His case is with a four member bench of the Supreme Court. For the time being his plans have been halted in its tracks. He should know as public opinion polls recently suggested that he has outlived whatever support or sympathy he had when he staged a bloodless coup in October 1999. People do want him, neither in uniform nor in an upstart’s achkin- pajama. A vast majority is sick of his antics of fighting Talibans and religious bigots while side by side creating and feeding the jihadis.

There is a great deal of uncertainty how the political class including the president would move. Would he want a safe passage and that could be best for him and Pakistan or stage a different coup d'état to get elected from the present parliament and state assemblies and then enact a farce of elections, keep his uniform and presidency. Clearly the people of Pakistan would reject any such moves and judiciary is no mood to oblige him to carry on with his dictates. As Pakistan turns sixty it is showing signs of maturity by rejecting emergency, martial law, election in uniform, election from these assemblies and general elections to suit the general’s convenience.

Washington as the midnight call from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to president Musharraf indicated is for some change, though it knows next to nothing how to go about it. It should if it can allow a fair and free election with all the players contesting. This way America shall be seen as a benefactor of the people of Pakistan and the institution of democracy which the American leaders day in day out declare to be their avowed politically philosophy. Otherwise the people of Pakistan would see through their conceited game as in Iraq. Nonetheless, they have to battle for democracy on their own and get rid of military dictators and their hegemony.

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