The Golden Chance?
26 Apr, 2002 · 741
Talib Khan rues as Gen Musharraf takes the beaten track despite alternatives that would have stamped his name in history
The new epoch grows in the shadows of the previous one. Is today any different from our yesterday? Will Musharraf’s formula for gaining power create a balanced state governance and permit development that the people of
Pakistan
have been promised so often by the men in Khaki? The fundamental answer to be sought from the past is how viable has it been to invest power in one person – the Army Chief or President? Will it work for
Pakistan
, as promised by Musharraf, like his predecessors in uniform? Why is it that once a military ruler comes to power he does not want to relinquish it? Is it because their way of coming to power was unconstitutional, or the lust for power, or their insecurity since they are riding the tiger.
Pakistan
had two referendums in the past under two other military rulers. Both turned out to be disasters. Even contemporary supporters of this enterprise remember the lack of public support and enthusiasm, which resulted in massive rigging during Zia’s referendum for Islamizing Pakistan. Musharraf’s whitewashing will be no different. The more intelligence agencies secure high turnout and show they are more loyal than the king, the more will be the ridicule. Under the new “devolutionary-revolutionary” set up, which is the brainchild of Musharraf’s whiz-kids, elected members are being coerced to coax the people to come for the presidential rallies.
Pakistan
if he had given autonomy to judicial, political, economic and constitutional institutions. History would remember him with respect and
Pakistan
would have been the beneficiary. He would have left
Pakistan
with a new precedent, a new vision, for his successors to follow. Is this the golden chance missed by Gen Musharraf?
Truly, this arises out of the fear that the masses were never in favour of them coming to power.
The masses under the poverty line face great inconvenience as the government is forcing public transporters to coercively bring people to these rallies. The criticism by the man in uniform of the democratically elected Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif in public gatherings is quite unnecessary. The participation of governors and their show of loyalty will only discredit the august post of the governor.
A referendum with only one candidate and no alternate choice simply debilitates the constitutional norm of seeking office through an acknowledged public mandate. It also affirms that the General, whilst seeking the highest office, is shying away from the main issues. It reflects his constitutionally insecure situation, as voiced by the political and religious parties.
The aftermath of the referendum will make the future parliament totally ineffective, as the President will effectively be in command. Parliament will exist as a rubber stamp, and the country will suffer from another costly polarization. History bears testimony that former military dictators have reduced Parliament into a nonentity through the use of Presidential veto powers.
Would it not have been better for Musharraf not to follow the footsteps of his predecessors? It would have been a great contribution to
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