The Political Situation of Pakistan

The Political Situation of Pakistan

Pakistan is passing through an ordeal which originated from the removal of the Chief Justice of Pakistan by the government of Parvez Musharraf on March 9,2007.Street protest and protests of other kinds particularly by the lawyers in the court premises and open places have thrown a big challenge to the Musharraf government which bother least about the people’s verdict and will. Its main footing lies in the cantonment, not in the public forum. Its strength emanates not from the people but from the generals who have engulfed the nation since its inception. Sumit Ganguly, professor of Political Science at Indiana University in Bloomington, has rightly said,“Pakistani military dictators are not known for leaving office quietly. Each one of the country’s dictators has railed angrily and stubbornly against his fate to the better end. Yahya Khan who dictated Pakistan from 1969 to 1972 and led his country down the path of an ignominious defeat at the hands of India after bungling an internal crisis in East Pakistan. General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq (1977-87) who sent one of Pakistan’s few elected presidents to the gallows, ultimately died in a very mysterious plane crash. General Parvez Musharraf who came to power in 1999 now seem to have started down the same paths.“


But we think he has an opportunity to break the tragic pattern of military generals clinging to power. At very least he should shed his uniform, send the army back to the barracks and compete in an open election. Unfortunately, there is little reason to believe that he will. The result will most likely be that he will cling to office until the deepening and worsening crisis finally leads to his replacement by yet another general. The conditions that persuade previous dictators to cling to power are still at work today.
Political wiles and the support of the key constituencies at home and aboard probably won’t be enough to keep Musharraf in power for long. Widespread protest isn’t unlikely to subside anytime soon. Government-sanctioned attacks on the popular and independent television channels, Geo and threats against prominent journals of Pakistan’s oldest newspaper Dawn, have only aggraded matters.

Under substantial pressure from the USA Musharraf has made only cosmetic gestures to contain the resurgence of the Taliban.Musharraf removed the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Choudhury on March 9 citing alleged misconduct. The move sparked the biggest political challenge to the general since he seized power eight years ago.Musharraf told the army officers in the eastern city of Jhelum on May 30 that a weekend seminar at the Supreme Court featuring fiery speeches by lawyers against his rule was an ‘assault’ on the leagl system. The language used at the meeting where the audience chanted “ Go Musharraf , go” and other slogans is “ tantamount to humiliating the armed forces and judiciary.”

Choudhury who also spoke at the seminar, did not overtly criticize Musharraf but issued a veiled warming that’ power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Opponents say Musharraf suspended the independent-minded Choudhury to remove any legal hurdle to retain his dual position as president and army chief beyond 2007 when he is constitutionally meant to hang up this uniform.Musharraf said, “ The media is free to criticize any action of the government but emphasized that their actions must not demoralize the nation.”
M B Naqvi says, “For many Musharraf regime is at the end of its tether and will have to depart soon. The reason is the judicial crisis that continues to grow. The CJP has become a symbol of resistance and has won the hearts of the Punjab heartland. Also the American media and think-tanks now find General Pervez Musharraf to be a growing problem, not its solution and with the passage of every day the regime is growing weaker and losing authority.”
Pakistan happens to be engulfed in two separate sets of crisis. The uppermost is the immediate existential crisis of the present regime that began with the March 9 events and the subsequent presidential reference against the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
The lawyers enjoy the full support of the civil society, intellectuals, a large swathe of the media and other professionals. The government is also mobilizing its resources, and is showing how popular it is by holding officially sponsored rallies.
The structural poverty in Pakistan society. A good 30 to 40 percent are decidedly poor by any standard. Another 35-30% find it hard to make two ends meet in the ambience of high inflation and growing unemployed.
Another major crisis also over 55 years old concerns the losing of power by the political class of 1947 to civil and military bureaucracy. Within less than a decade the military was able to subordinate civil services and proceed to assemble a combination of all elite groups-feudals, bankers, industrialist and the rest big businessmen.

Three major political parties – PPP, PML(N) and MMA—disagree on the role of religion and Army. PPP cannot sit with an MMA and has all the commonalities of political objectives with Musharraf regime, PML (N) however, is close to the Moulvi by itself.
All three are ready to countenance the generals’ uniform is now hard to accept. The generals have so far spurned both Nawaz and Benazir. Will he continue doing it? Technically speaking there is window of opportunity.


Musharraf says he saved Pakistan after 9/11 but I think he has failed. Said Javed Ahrofa 26 year old shopkeepers in Multan, a city in Punjab, the country’s dominant province and a Key battle –ground in upcoming elections. Musharraf is on the way out. But Pakistan top army commanders voiced full support for him. On June 01, a statement said amid the biggest crisis of his eight year military rule.
“ The corps commanders and principal staff officers of Pakistan Army affirmed to stand committed for security of their country under the leadership and guidance of the president.—the military statement said. Violence in Krachi on May 12 killed more than 40 people and left Musharraf fending off accusation that a pro-government political party was to blame for the worst of the bloodshed.
Musharraf has survived two al-Queda assassination attempts, face down opposition his alliance with the US and held on the support of fellow generals for eight months.

In Pakistan it is true and proved that the support of the military is essential and very important to remain in power, not the people which directly go against the spirit of democracy. The will of people and their interest and representation never get reflected through this sort of governance. The will of people must be reflected and honoured in a true democratic system but unfortunately Pakistan has yet to see it. The honey stored in the state administration has most probably attracted the generals almost permanently which need to be changed. Until the will of the people get reflected through a system in a country which really shows the dominance of the people very reasonably, the country cannot expect to go ahead. The way of governing the nation has been paved for the uniformed people making the role of people thinner.

Md. Masum Billah
Programme Manager: BEP-PACE
Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com