Pakistan has always needed strong institutions even if we had strong men in power. The way things are developing leaving two of the strongest men in power is a manifestation of their helplessness. No doubt analysts who think themselves to be all knowing about national issues do not actually know much about them. Indeed, democracy despite challenges of security, economic down turn, failure to revive productivity due to continued fight against extremism and terrorism, the selected government of Imran Khan does not seem to be going anywhere in meeting the challenges..
Let us take into consideration about the insurmountable difficulties faced by the country at the international and national level that have created impediments for the development of nascent democracy ever since elected people managed to kick out Army dictator from power General Pervez Musharraf in March 2008. I can recount the seven major events and/or developments that have been visibly discernable.
First, the government succeeded in its campaign against war on
terrorism. Just imagine, a war called America’s war or Musharraf’s war,
became the whole Pakistani nation’s war with brave Pakistani armed forces putting their heart and soul to eliminate the scourge of terrorism. It was good to see the international community no more question Pakistan’s sincerity to combat terrorists. The whole nation has turned the tables against the Taliban after a tenacious fight back. Indeed, while some time ago even some of our friends had described the Taliban “onslaught as a mortal threat to Islamabad”. Taliban were not only made to run; they had ceased to be an anathema to a common Pakistani way of life.
Given the challenges faced by Pakistan, the fact that democracy has sustained itself during the last decade or so is no doubt an achievement of the democratic government in a decade of its survival against most difficult challenges and threats
Second, there was a marked improvement of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Unlike Musharraf-Karzai tiff, there was a positive chemistry between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Afghanistan appreciated that the current leadership in Pakistan means business and was sincere in the stability of Afghanistan.
Third, Pak-US strategic dialogue although in its fifth session during the past five years, entered into forward gear for the first time with structured discussion on ten substantive issues encompassing security, economic, defence and cultural cooperation as also cooperation in the energy sector. Clear benchmarks have been decided by the two sides in order to achieve tangible results. On war on terror, it is no more a “do more” demand by the US but a real appreciation of Pakistan’s role in tackling extremism. Not only that, Pakistan’s participation in the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington has re-asserted the confidence of the international community in the safety of Pakistani custodial controls over its strategic assets. Not only that, Islamabad and Afghanistan made a substantive effort to get things going on the conference table in Doha.
As thing stand today, there is growing hope of a settlement. Fourth, the Balochistan Package (Aghaz-e Huqooq-e Balochistan- (Initiation of Balochistan’s Rights) is a historical initiative by the government which enjoys the support of all the political forces in the country. For the first time in the history of Pakistan a government has taken extraordinary measures to address the deprivation of the
people of Balochistan. The government has also succeeded in sensitising the international community towards the alleged Indian machination in the province in the garb of its reconstruction work in Afghanistan.
Fifth, NFC award –now in doldrums–is another major success of the government which enjoys the support of all the provinces as well as all major political parties. The award has also removed a major irritant amongst smaller provinces regarding their share in the national income. More adjustments will be required to be made to make Balochistan more contended.
Sixth, despite the machinations and intrigues by the power blocks in the Punjab and the defiance in support of Eighteenth Amendment by the smaller provinces in the National Assembly and the Senate was another major feat of successive governments which has steered the constitutional reforms process despite the federal government’s opposition. A number of analysts have described the survival of the 18th Amendment as a ‘miracle’ because of divergences grappled by the Parliament’s Reforms Committee. Nevertheless, these amendments would prove to be a precursor to strengthening the foundations of a stable democratic order in the country.
Seventh, although part of the constitutional amendments, the renaming of NWFP province to Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa is the fulfilment of a long standing demand of the people of the province. Unfortunately, sections of the people of Hazara have expressed their dissatisfaction over the renaming of the province. But a democratic order always has the capacity to address such grievances. As the issue of Gilgit and Baltistan has been resolved. Given the challenges faced by Pakistan, the fact that democracy has sustained itself during the last decade or so is no doubt an achievement of the democratic government in a decade of its survival against most difficult challenges and threats. Indeed, as a commentator rightly said, our brand of democracy may be noisy but it delivers. It has rather put up excellent resilience in combating both external and internal threats to democracy.
Author is the former High Commissioner of Pakistan to UK and a senior journalist.