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Kathmandu Friday June 22, 2001 Ashadh 08, 2058.
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Regressive step
Pakistan’s military ruler General
Pervez Musharraf, the former chief of the army, was sworn in by Chief Justice Irshad Hasan
Khan as President the other day. General Musharraf unceremoniously ousted incumbent
president Mohammad Rafiq Tarar 18 months before the end of his five year term. This is an
attempt on the part of Musharraf to consolidate power at the cost of parliamentary
democracy. Unfortunately, New Delhi has become the first democratic country to recognise
Musharraf’s assumption of presidency. No matter what General Musharraf has claimed,
his move is a step away from democracy in Pakistan. Now, all offices and powers are vested
in an individual as was the case under previous dictators in that country. General
Musharraf obviously intends to establish a power process with the military structure on
top and with himself as its anointed representative. This sends out the clear signal both
at home and abroad that he will stay on in power despite the Supreme Court order that
"the country returns to parliamentary democracy by October 2002".
General Musharraf, citing political
instability and corruption, staged a coup against the democratically elected government
led by Nawaz Sharif in October 1999. The reason cited by General Musharraf for ousting
civilian rule was too extreme a step in a democratic set up to be ignored. General
Musharraf who had just returned from Sri Lanka accused the civilian government of trying
to prevent his plane from landing, something which could have been fatal for all those on
board. With that he overthrew the civilian government. This was a month after Pakistan and
India fought a bloody mini-war over Kargil, territory on the Indian side of the line of
control in Kashmir. New Delhi was too quick to condemn the "coup" against the
Sharif’s government. India even went a step further, proposing that the commonwealth
suspend Pakistan from membership. However, India did not realize that General Musharraf
would be invited one day for a dialogue over Kashmir, which is still disputed territory
between India and Pakistan.
Military dictators have ruled Pakistan for almost four
decades since it got independence from Britain in 1947. The first military coup was staged
in 1958 by General Ayub Khan against the last Governor General, Iskandar Mirza, a decade
after Pakistan became an independent country. At that time Pakistan had not yet held its
first general elections. In 1977, General Mohammad Zia-ul Haq overthrew the Zulfikar Ali
Bhutto-led government. That was six years after India fought a war with Pakistan to
liberate former East Pakistan. After the partition of the sub-continent, Pakistan fought
three wars with India, including two over Kashmir and witnessed coups against civilian
rulers thrice. Now
General Musharraf has not only replaced Mahammad Rafiq Tarar unconstitutionally but has
also further undermined the parliamentary order. This is a bid to hold on to power and
undermine democratic values, and to that extent another regressive step.
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