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The debate over the fate of democracy in Pakistan is not new. Pakistan’s chequered but brief history of 63 years indicates that democratic dispensations ruled the country for 31 years while military dictators held the reins of government for the rest. Ever since General Ayub Khan overturned the applecart of democracy in October 1958, the overbearing shadow of military diktat has cast its influence over successive democratic governments. The budding sapling of democracy has been uprooted many times by military usurpers affecting its growth and preventing it from taking roots. Students of political science and history must take cognizance of the factor that nearly in all military takeovers in Pakistan; it was the politicians who made the environment murky, chaotic and anarchical, paving the way for the imposition of subsequent martial laws. In some cases, it was disgruntled politicians who actually invited the military to remove the regime and assume the mantle of government. In one specific case it was the extreme folly of a democratically elected Prime Minister by removing a serving army chief, ignoring protocol and norms of service that brought in reactionary forces into play, unseating the political government and catapulting a reluctant coup maker to the highest echelon of power. That is another story that once firmly entrenched; no despot wants to depart willingly.
The current state of uncertainty, which raises the question whether democracy is under threat in Pakistan can be answered if one visits the root causes of the present imbroglio of increased drone attacks, failing economy, fake degrees episode, NATO incursions and the NRO conundrum having its roots in the reign of General Pervez Musharraf. Having been propelled into power and making a sound start of accountability and steering the country on a sound footing, the General soon got sucked into the vacuum of real politick. Corrupt politicians were let off; in order to assemble an array of “educated” politicians; the precondition of being a graduate had to be imposed for the eligibility of parliamentarians to be elected. This paved the way for the malevolence of acquiring bogus degrees becoming the foundation stone of the “fake degree” saga. The current judicial crisis too commenced when the General tried to unceremoniously dismiss the Chief Justice and the backlash swept his own government out of power whose reverberations are still being felt. Having usurped power through the backdoor, post 9/11, when queried by the U.S. with the famous inquiry: “You are either with us or against us?” General Musharraf succumbed to all of U.S. demands regarding Pakistan’s participation in the Global War on Terror. As the years went by and the General’s political position weakened, he was willing to make even more compromises and reportedly gave tacit approval to CIA controlled drone attacks on targets within Pakistan. With his political base becoming shaky, the General was willing to make a deal with the devil himself; suffice it to say that he opted for the National Reconciliation Order (NRO), clearing the way for Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to return to power in Pakistan. That is another story that the script got waylaid and the Mohtarma became a Shaheed; her involuntary sacrifice providing her husband Asif Zardari, the opportunity to become the President of Pakistan and form his own government, albeit through the route of democracy.
That brings us back to the questions of the danger of the derailment of democracy and whether democracy in Pakistan is strong enough to protect itself?
The answer lies in the factors that despite the fact Pakistan is passing through the worst crises in its history, yet it is not democracy that is in danger but the current dispensation in the government. Democracy is capable of defending itself, but the situation demands a Herculean effort to clean the Augean stables of Pakistan’s democratic climate; which does not mean dragging the carpet from under the feet of democracy. The judiciary has set the tone and tenor of its independence by challenging the 18th amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan’s Article 175-A pertaining to the procedure of appointing superior court judges. It is significant to note that the apex court decided to send Article 175-A back to the parliament for reconsideration instead of striking it down, considering that it had harmed judiciary’s freedom and consultation with the chief justice was necessary for the appointment of judges; thus upholding the prestige of the parliament.
The battle for the validity of the NRO is still on. Politicians claim that Pakistani democracy is being attacked by non-democratic forces; declaring that the campaign against politicians is actually a campaign against democracy. Their logic is that the NRO list of 8,000 comprises only 35 politicians, however, politicians are being targeted and questions about Generals, Bureaucrats and Industrialists are being ignored. The fact is that two wrongs do not make a right. NRO beneficiary politicians, who have had the record of their corrupt past expunged through political expediency, have no right to continue to be in government. If the judiciary has taken notice of it, it is perhaps within its rights to do so. Democratic practice should be to bring only those persons to represent the people in the august houses of the parliament, who are honest, clean and above the stigma of corruption. The debate over the NRO should not be viewed as a tool to derail the process of democracy but one that will ultimately strengthen it.
In Pakistan democracy is under threat not from the people of Pakistan but by those greedy, corrupt, dishonest and insincere politicians who believe that democracy is a means for enriching themselves and not for the benefit of the poor masses. Then there are those who believe that “democracy is the best revenge”. Revenge from whom, the people of Pakistan? For starters, the true meaning of democracy needs to be relearned. Democracy by no means implies hijacking power for the sake of pursing one’s own private agenda. It is a shame when we extend the begging bowl for help and people like Secretary Clinton rap us on the knuckles to remind us our filial duties towards the flood affectees. Her statement at the “Friends of Pakistan” meet at Brussels last month, devoid of the cloak of civility, warned that “it is absolutely unacceptable for those with means in Pakistan not to be doing their fair share to help their own people, while the taxpayers of Europe, the U.S. and other contributing countries are all chipping in.”
Even EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton stressed that the international community wanted to “learn more about Pakistan’s strategy for a longer-term comprehensive approach to recovery and how it will tackle structural impediments”. Unfortunately our politicians are their own worst enemies; they try to hide their inadequacies under the garb of highlighting the threat of possible military intervention, when the military has no intention of taking over the cesspool of muck. Political infighting and turf wars for edging out their opponents, rank sleaze and perfidy topped with total lack of management skills are the worst enemy of democracy. It goes to our credit that despite all its shortcomings, the current dispensation in the government is likely to be removed democratically and not through brute force. 
The writer is a columnist and TV talk show host.
S. M. Hali is a film producer and a practicing journalist. He has contributed over 2000 articles, produced 125 documentaries and hosts a TV talk show. He is currently based in Islamabad.
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