OPED: Democracy at Stake in Pakistan?
Published Sep 2017 / Global Affairs
Written early Aug when the NS story was relevant
The Course of True Justice Never did Run Smooth
As the country completes its 70th year, yet another democratically elected leader gets the boot. He has also been disqualified from contesting in the future thereby ending his run as candidate for the coveted PM slot. From afar the negative holding pattern appears to be intact. Whispers of coups fly by from authors affiliated with foreign publications, a good many with South Asian handles and murky agendas.
Though it was blowback from Panama Papers responsible for Mr. Sharif’s undoing, the perception that democracy has taken a hit abounds. It is based on speculations that this was a military backed offensive under the guise of a judge’s gavel. They in turn prompt sensational headlines like ‘Pakistan's Prospects for Democracy Weaken as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Is Disqualified.’ And when former ambassadors like Hussain Haqqani proclaim that “Pakistan stays faithful to its 70-year tradition: No PM ever removed by voters; only by judges, generals, bureaucrats or assassins”, those fears gain traction.
The future of democracy does not appear to be in jeopardy at the moment. Dynasties on the other hand may have had their run.
The Pillars of Naya Pakistan
The fiction that this was a personal vendetta against the head of state continues to fuel his movement. Yet when a sitting PM under investigation for fraud, corruption and perhaps rigging evades justice and whose track record mars Pakistan’s standing in front of the world, it makes him as much of a liability as a dictator. The smooth transition of power from Zardari to Sharif may have been hailed as a victory in the past - the fact that Mr. Sharif while democratically elected, came with a trail of controversies attached negated that hope. He is not alone in his financial misdemeanors, and should not be the only one under scrutiny. That does not leave many contenders.
While some cautious optimism must be permitted in this ‘Naya Pakistan’, it is not a time for celebration but introspection. Because the infamous Panama Papers was the tip of the iceberg - there is nary a politician untainted by allegations of corruption and turf wars are already brewing that threaten to turn these hard won victories to dust.
Finding a worthy heir to the Throne
For many, a cricketer turned politician - Imran Khan (PTI) with his corruption free label is the closest one comes to breaking the chain of incompetence, greed, nepotism and malicious politics. He too has his failings. Chief among them are affiliations with religious entities that weigh down his mandate and fiery nature that make him unpredictable. But he removed the stigma from local politics, and gave it an aura of respectability. In some ways his party sets a benchmark for those who kept their cities under the shadow of body bags, bhatta, shutter strikes and at the mercy of target killers or the ones who reduced their cities to dumps while they siphoned off the funds meant for their people.
Politics in the era of Character Assassinations
The new Pakistan is trying to cut back on martial laws, but now enters another phase marked by character assassinations, muckraking and defamation campaigns. In the age of social media and fake news – such trends belie the tenets of civility. And in a nation like Pakistan still struggling to define limits, weaponization of honor and / or blasphemy can be used with devastating effect.
That Mr. Khan now finds himself embroiled in a scandal and has in turn retaliated in kind putting the opposition’s morality on notice underscores the dark side of politics. His inability to anticipate and contain the storm raises concerns about his political future. If the PTI leader intends to restore dignity and prestige to the land only known for corruption and coups then he must learn the fine art of navigating these treacherous waters without sinking to the same depths of depravity the rest occupy.
The House of Sharif’s final stand
In the aftermath of SC’s landmark decision, PML (N) remained defiant, seemingly intent on taking their case to the streets or as they call it - the people’s court. Their right to hold a civilized protest cannot be challenged. Political turmoil and anarchy however would undermine the democratic process. Nawaz Sharif may be finally going home for the third and final time but his road trip from the Capital to Lahore is now a political ploy and campaigning for office along the way is effectively throwing gauntlet down to the judiciary. Also, diverting government resources to provide security to a political entity with no claim to power a day after a blast ripped through one city only serves to disrupt the course of justice.
The House of Sharif’s final stand reinforces the need for strong institutions that can withstand the onslaught led by scorned leaders and hired hands, and be mindful of the dangers posed by the narrative of a political martyr. Cloaking the verdict in colors of conspiracy to appeal to the voter base is an old favorite. And invoking the troubled civil-military relationship that continues to haunt the corridors of power never fails to get attention. The ousted PM seems to relish the idea of engaging in pitched battles with the judges and the men in uniform.
But democracy while desirable is not meant to give legitimacy to dynastic rule, and the verdict, while unexpected sets a precedent. And now that elections are round the bend, it could be an opportunity for Pakistan to put its house in order and prevent charlatans and criminals from gate-crashing the next democratic convention. If the tradition of revolving door politics has truly ended leaving the field open for a better cadre of politician then the political circus might shutter its doors.
Written early Aug when the NS story was relevant
The Course of True Justice Never did Run Smooth
As the country completes its 70th year, yet another democratically elected leader gets the boot. He has also been disqualified from contesting in the future thereby ending his run as candidate for the coveted PM slot. From afar the negative holding pattern appears to be intact. Whispers of coups fly by from authors affiliated with foreign publications, a good many with South Asian handles and murky agendas.
Though it was blowback from Panama Papers responsible for Mr. Sharif’s undoing, the perception that democracy has taken a hit abounds. It is based on speculations that this was a military backed offensive under the guise of a judge’s gavel. They in turn prompt sensational headlines like ‘Pakistan's Prospects for Democracy Weaken as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Is Disqualified.’ And when former ambassadors like Hussain Haqqani proclaim that “Pakistan stays faithful to its 70-year tradition: No PM ever removed by voters; only by judges, generals, bureaucrats or assassins”, those fears gain traction.
The future of democracy does not appear to be in jeopardy at the moment. Dynasties on the other hand may have had their run.
The Pillars of Naya Pakistan
The fiction that this was a personal vendetta against the head of state continues to fuel his movement. Yet when a sitting PM under investigation for fraud, corruption and perhaps rigging evades justice and whose track record mars Pakistan’s standing in front of the world, it makes him as much of a liability as a dictator. The smooth transition of power from Zardari to Sharif may have been hailed as a victory in the past - the fact that Mr. Sharif while democratically elected, came with a trail of controversies attached negated that hope. He is not alone in his financial misdemeanors, and should not be the only one under scrutiny. That does not leave many contenders.
While some cautious optimism must be permitted in this ‘Naya Pakistan’, it is not a time for celebration but introspection. Because the infamous Panama Papers was the tip of the iceberg - there is nary a politician untainted by allegations of corruption and turf wars are already brewing that threaten to turn these hard won victories to dust.
Finding a worthy heir to the Throne
For many, a cricketer turned politician - Imran Khan (PTI) with his corruption free label is the closest one comes to breaking the chain of incompetence, greed, nepotism and malicious politics. He too has his failings. Chief among them are affiliations with religious entities that weigh down his mandate and fiery nature that make him unpredictable. But he removed the stigma from local politics, and gave it an aura of respectability. In some ways his party sets a benchmark for those who kept their cities under the shadow of body bags, bhatta, shutter strikes and at the mercy of target killers or the ones who reduced their cities to dumps while they siphoned off the funds meant for their people.
Politics in the era of Character Assassinations
The new Pakistan is trying to cut back on martial laws, but now enters another phase marked by character assassinations, muckraking and defamation campaigns. In the age of social media and fake news – such trends belie the tenets of civility. And in a nation like Pakistan still struggling to define limits, weaponization of honor and / or blasphemy can be used with devastating effect.
That Mr. Khan now finds himself embroiled in a scandal and has in turn retaliated in kind putting the opposition’s morality on notice underscores the dark side of politics. His inability to anticipate and contain the storm raises concerns about his political future. If the PTI leader intends to restore dignity and prestige to the land only known for corruption and coups then he must learn the fine art of navigating these treacherous waters without sinking to the same depths of depravity the rest occupy.
The House of Sharif’s final stand
In the aftermath of SC’s landmark decision, PML (N) remained defiant, seemingly intent on taking their case to the streets or as they call it - the people’s court. Their right to hold a civilized protest cannot be challenged. Political turmoil and anarchy however would undermine the democratic process. Nawaz Sharif may be finally going home for the third and final time but his road trip from the Capital to Lahore is now a political ploy and campaigning for office along the way is effectively throwing gauntlet down to the judiciary. Also, diverting government resources to provide security to a political entity with no claim to power a day after a blast ripped through one city only serves to disrupt the course of justice.
The House of Sharif’s final stand reinforces the need for strong institutions that can withstand the onslaught led by scorned leaders and hired hands, and be mindful of the dangers posed by the narrative of a political martyr. Cloaking the verdict in colors of conspiracy to appeal to the voter base is an old favorite. And invoking the troubled civil-military relationship that continues to haunt the corridors of power never fails to get attention. The ousted PM seems to relish the idea of engaging in pitched battles with the judges and the men in uniform.
But democracy while desirable is not meant to give legitimacy to dynastic rule, and the verdict, while unexpected sets a precedent. And now that elections are round the bend, it could be an opportunity for Pakistan to put its house in order and prevent charlatans and criminals from gate-crashing the next democratic convention. If the tradition of revolving door politics has truly ended leaving the field open for a better cadre of politician then the political circus might shutter its doors.
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