Democracy, The Only Way

After the removal of Nawaz Sharif's government, the pace of the military government is rather slow. The National Security Council (nsc) has been formed, the members of the council have been nominated and among them are names which have come as a surprise. The governors of four provinces have been nominated who have taken oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO). The new cabinet was to be sworn-in, but has been deferred, because Gen Musharraf is on his way to Saudi Arabia, presumably for consultations and advice. It appears that the military commanders are reluctant to take on the full responsibility for governance, accountability and rule of law.

In fact, there are only two main options before the military high command. One is to seek validation through referendum or through the Supreme Court and establish proper military rule to accomplish all that has been promised. The second option is to revive the Constitution and the assembly to elect a new leader of the house and seek validity for military intervention from the assembly, with the condition that the nsc shall be retained; the newly appointed governors will stay, and the autonomous Accountability and Election Commissions would be established to work for a meaningful and effective accountability and to ensure fair and free elections.

The above scenario seems to be emerging with greater probability because the ultimate objective is to re-establish the democratic order by reviving the suspended Constitution and the assembly than by complete takeover by the military. Governance at this moment is a much more difficult and complicated affair than earlier times when military rule was tolerated grudgingly. And now, when the world opinion is not in favour of military takeover and a full-fledged democracy is established in India, it is proper that democracy in Pakistan is re-established. Gen Musharraf's journey to Saudi Arabia may well be for the cause of democracy!

The military government has decided to exclude politicians from the interim setup, which needs reconsideration because sooner or later, the power will be handed over to the politicians who form part of the institution of democracy, which is to be put right like any other national institution. Thus, Option Two offers the advantage of screening out "involved" members and in their places, new blood could be inducted through by-elections. Moreover, the interim military government needs a strong political support base without which even the good deeds will be looked at with suspicion.

Democracy is the hope for Pakistan. Uncertainty, ambiguity and the attempt to introduce some other political ideology could lead to chaos and confusion, resulting in a takeover by radical forces who have never enjoyed the confidence of the broad masses of Pakistan. Since August 1988, demo-

cracy has moved on a bumpy road, managing to survive and yet, by default, now lies bruised and bleeding, needing resuscitation through good military judgment, characterised by discretion, which is the better part of valour.

The writer is a former chief of Pakistani army staff.