The travails of Pakistan

Pakistan is yest again in a bind. For a county that is full of thoughtful and vibrant citizens, its polity has let it down since its independence. Unfortunately, Pakistan -- though was gifted with the same norms and institutions as India for political pluaralism by the British -- has not found its political governance model.

Pakistan military -- unlike in India -- has been too willing to seek political power. Three military rulers -- Ayub Khan in the 1960s, Zia-ul-Huq in 1980s and now Musharraf -- each with substantial longevity have dominated Pakistan's political leadership. The challenge with military autocracy as with any dictatorship is that there is no accountability and the desire to hold on to power warps even the most sane human mind. In a democracy, elections are as inevitable as the seasons and the political leadership is naturally held accountable and prevented from amassing power.

Look at Musharraf. First, in trying to hold and then in trying to consolidate his political power, Musharraf decided to align himself with the U.S. in the fight against terrorism. Instantly, Musharraf gained a certain respectability and credibility, and access to resources because of the patronage from the U.S. However, Musharraf squandered this opportunity though hubris and a greed for power.

Musharraf amended the constitution to suit his whims and fancies, refused to let political parties and leaders operate in Pakistan, intimated the press, and finally threatened the judiciary and removed the inconvenient judges. Musharaff disguised all this for a long time as necessary actions to fight fundamentalism and terrorism. But this excuse soon wore out.

Musharraf, finally and reluctantly, allowed parliamentary elections and participation by political parties. And then tragedy stuck in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Bhutto's compromised and corrupt husband, Asif Ali Zardari, was then elected as co-chair of Pakistan People's Party.

In an effort to divide the political opposition, Musharraf adopted the old Machiavellian approach by dismissing all the criminal and civil complaints against Zardari prior to the recent parliamentary elections. But Musharaff prevented Nawaz Sharif, the former Prime Minister, from contesting the parliamentary elections. While Zardari's Pakistan People's party won enough parliamentary seats for a simple majority, Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League also won substantial number of seats.

After much hard-pressed negotiations, Zardari and Sharif agreed to form the government together. But within months, the coalition has come apart. What a tragedy for Pakistan! What a gift to Musharraf!!

The agreement has come apart on a simple but enlightening issue. Sharif, rightly, wanted the Supreme Court justices who were removed by Musharraf for his own political expediency be restored to their positions through parliamentary action. That was the right constitutional, moral and political decision. But Zardari, after initially agreeing to this, blocked the rightful action because Zardari himself could not afford an independent judiciary given his precarious situation.

Of course, Musharaff is smiling. But people of Pakistan have much to be disappointed.