Daily Times

Rolling back democracy is talk of the town these days as the drawing room politics seems busy in spreading rumours that serious differences between the democratically elected government and the military establishment are leading to a head-on collision. They say General Raheel Sharif has not phoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif even once to enquire after his health after his return from London following his open-heart surgery, making government circles concerned about this situation. It was said that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan were directed to make sure that the Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif visits the prime minister when the latter returns to Islamabad and assumes charge of his office, but both ministers failed to accomplish this task. As a result, the prime minister’s return to Islamabad was delayed. Prime Minister Sharif and his family members returned home from London on July 9, and government circles were sure that the army chief would pay a courtesy visit to the prime minister, and bring a bouquet for him as a goodwill gesture, but none of that happened.

This development, they say, caused anxiety in government ranks. Prime minister’s Raiwind camp office was concerned about the fact that the army chief enquired after Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan’s health, but did not enquire after the health of the prime minister of Pakistan health. General Sharif also telephoned the captain of Pakistan Cricket Team, Misbah-ul-Haq, and felicitated him on his team’s victory in the first Test against England at Lord’s.

It was considered strange behaviour that the two most important figures of the country did not have any contact over the past 11 days. But these proved to be mere speculations. The nation witnessed that the prime minister chaired a high-level security meeting in Islamabad in which the chief of army staff was the main participant.

In the background was the example of the recent coup against Turkey’s elected government staged by a segment of the Turkish military. Many in Pakistan started feeling the heat of a possible military coup, with a difference that the coups in Pakistan have never failed. They made comparisons of Pakistani military with the Turkish military, and drew conclusions that the coup in Turkey was ill-planned, and there were divisions within the ranks of the brass. However, the majority here in Pakistan, like the people of Turkey, favours democracy.

We must understand the fact that democracy is our future, and this understanding has also reached the top levels of political and military dispensations. Democracy is the most invigorating form of government for the people, and the government, it is the mechanism in every individual is treated equally. It is a procedure in which a fair and transparent system is used to vote and form a government. It is a system in which people should not be afraid of their government; they must have freedom of speech, and freedom to live respecting the constitution of the country.

The history of Pakistan and Turkey has various similarities. Both faced four martial laws. Both hanged a prime minister. Both are embroiled in a civil war in the neighbourhood –Syria in Turkey’s neighbourhood and Afghanistan in Pakistan’s neighbourhood. Both face the spillover of events outside their countries. Both are hosting millions of refugees, and therefore bearing the economic and social brunt. Militaries of both the countries have been intervening directly in these countries, and both have the backing from Washington.

The reason why the latest coup failed in Turkey was because it was a only a segment of the military that had staged it. Secondly, the coup-plotters failed to get support from the people; they came out in the streets and sacrificed their lives not for President Erdoðan but for the sake of democracy. Thirdly, Erdoðan was able to use social media including FaceTime and WhatsApp in order to mobilise the public. Although Erdoðan’s policies of supporting US to topple Bashar al-Assad, covertly funding ISIS to counter Kurds and dealing with Fatehullah Gülen’s movement, etc., have been criticised, yet the Turkish president enjoys people’s confidence by his bold decisions on reforms, strengthening economy and facing his enemies without any fear.

Pakistan draws lessons from the popular Turkish leader, and divisions in the ranks and files on various counts and reasons. Successful governance, sober internal politics and foreign policy relations based on mutual benefits and economic interests are the key to prosperity, and blocking the possibility of a coup. Pakistan does not have a proper foreign minister, which puts a question mark on its foreign policy agenda. One must hope that what happened in Turkey is not going to happen in Pakistan because the Turkish people seems satisfied with their government’s policies, unlike Pakistanis. According to politicians like Imran Khan, people of Pakistan would welcome dictatorship. God forbid.

But this alarm must not be the catalyst to affect the entire democratic system. Political dispensation must build capability to mend its ways, and bring in-house changes if necessary. The meddling in affairs of other pillars of the state has, time and again, proved to be dangerous for the security and solidarity of the country. There has to be sustainable democracy.

Pakistan is now seemingly on a sustainable democratic path, the fact that has been recognised by many. Besides political stability, economic sustenance, indeed, is the need of the hour for our people’s prosperity and country’s security. A number of initiatives have been taken — including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor — which are not only the focus of the civilian government but also the military establishment has taken the task of its security. There is a hope of economic revival despite impediments in its way. A number of economic models have been followed to gain strength and stability, but a system of democracy that offers a comprehensive solution to the problems of people is indeed the best one to be followed in letter and spirit.

The writer is a DDS scholar at the Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi