Crisis in Pakistan

When India celebrated its 60th year of independence with a renewed confidence in the light of its growing economy and an improved world status, neighbouring Pakistan marked its 60th year of independence as well. But dark clouds hovered around Pakistan and still continue to do so. Democracy still lay in the stranglehold of the military, the violence associated with religious fundamentalism was brought to Islamabad's doorstep as the nation watched the storming of Lal Masjid and a conceited world power continues to exercise its strong influence over the policies of Pakistan's government.

Democracy in Pakistan has always been overshadowed by its strongest institution, the army. Of the 60 years of independence only 27 have been under democratic rule. A cycle of democratic and military rule has consistently repeated itself in Pakistan. One of the regrets most Pakistanis harbour is the early demise of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who was definitely a great leader having played an important role in the freedom struggle. His death in 1948 left a vacuum in the political arena which no leader has ever been able to fill. A popular sense of disillusion with poor civilian leadership has always helped the army in its claim to power. The Pakistani army today has thus become a highly politicised institution, with democratic governments consulting with the army on key decisions. The army is deeply entrenched in the economy of the country as well. The military runs National Logistic Cell (the biggest freight transportation company in Pakistan), Frontier Works Organisation (the biggest contractor in the country for constructing roads and collecting tolls) and a number of subsidiaries/cooperatives that engages in a range of profit making activities. Some subsidiaries, for instance those in the real estate market, advertise their relationship with the army to project themselves as more efficient. The army is also said to control 12% of total state land, larger than any group or institution in Pakistan. Unless some radical changes take place, the army will continue to exercise a strong say in the political matters of the state.

This brings us to present situation in Pakistan. President Musharaff has effectively crippled the main institutions of democracy, the executive, the judiciary and the media. The judiciary and the executive are mere puppets. The emergency is supposed to be lifted in a little more than a week, free and fair elections are supposed to be conducted in January. However without an independent judiciary it will be hard to determine the fairness of the election process. A new general has been instated. General Ashfaq Parvez Kiani, who has been overseeing the entire operation of the "war-on-terror" since October, will probably emerge as the most powerful man in Pakistan. It is hard to imagine for how long a civilian president will be able to exercise control over the country. Historically, the chief of the army has always been a powerful post in the establishment. Musharaff's relinquishing of that post could sound the death knell for him.

If the political instability weren't enough Pakistan's other woes include America's meddling of its internal affairs. The publicised return of Benazir Bhutto to Pakistan, the proposed partnership of Bhutto and Musharaff, the army's change of guard... all seem to indicate a secret hand giving a push. There have been several high profile visits by US state officials in the last few months, each visit having a strong message to convey to Musharaff. Most recently, the US ambassador Anne W Patterson made an open intervention in Pakistan's domestic affairs with a strong call to all political parties to participate in the upcoming elections. She is said to have personally met with Nawaz Sarif amid protests by him to boycott the elections. The US is losing the battle in Afghanistan and a resurgent Taliban is steadily occupying territory. In the continuing "war-on-terror", military/democratic, America would want a pliant government in Islamabad.

In these days of darkness however there shine a few beacons of light in Pakistan who continue to give its people hope. They include Imran Khan; whose most recent article Battle for Pakistan is a must read for those following the Pakistan situation, Justice Iftikhar Choudhary and the judges and lawyers who are seen as symbol against the dictatorship: as can be read here.

On a lighter note, a recent article in the Daily Times ran a story on how a few school children thought about the imposition of the emergency in Pakistan. A fictional character called Harry Potter seems to be the only hope of these school children. The story can be read here. The thoughts voiced by these children however echo the larger sentiments in Pakistan society, and that is the lack of strong, trustworthy civilian leadership.