Egypt's PM, JICA chief discuss boosting investment, education ties at TICAD 9    Egyptian pound wavers vs. USD in early trade    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    Egypt's PM meets Tokyo governor, witnesses signing of education agreements    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Egypt's Sisi, France's Macron discuss Gaza ceasefire efforts in phone call    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Keeping Pakistan's military away from politics
Published in Daily News Egypt on 14 - 03 - 2008

The clean sweep by opposition parties in the recently held national elections has uprooted President Musharraf´s party, putting his future at risk. Asif Zardari, leader of the Pakistan People´s Party (PPP) and Nawaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), surprised everyone by joining together to form a new government in Islamabad.
This new alliance between the opposition parties may re-orient Pakistan´s political future, empowering elected officials to follow Turkey s example on the road to democracy.
This message of unity was well received by the people. Both parties´ leaders made a public commitment to adhere to the charter of democracy (signed by former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif on 14 May 2006 in London), which calls for the restoration of the 1973 Constitution - in place until the 1999 military coup, ensures the supremacy of parliament, limits the role of the military in politics and imposes restrictions on intelligence agencies.
These key issues remain part of both parties´ electoral manifestos. Apart from Musharraf supporters, no other political groups have any objection to implementing these political parameters. A broader consensus among political parties has emerged to stop Pakistan´s armed forces from indulging in the country's political affairs, guaranteeing that the parliament retains political control.
Currently, the president enjoys enormous powers - he can dissolve the National Assembly and appoint military chiefs.
Pakistan's civil society, led mainly by lawyers, is up in arms against Musharraf and wants the reinstatement of deposed judges. It seems that Musharraf is neither willing to restore the judges to their rightful positions nor to quit the presidency. This stance is likely to continue until Washington and Pakistan's military withdraw their support for him.
Pakistan's army has become a key power broker in maintaining corporate interests and has its own benchmarks for measuring Pakistan-India relations, the Kashmir conflict and Pakistan-US relations. It does not allow elected officials to have a say in its internal affairs.
Unfortunately, the army's influence is deep-rooted and widespread not only amongst the lower classes, but also amongst certain political officials, making it difficult for it to change its ways. In order to counter the military's influence and power, the opposition needs to work gradually but diligently.
It would be wise for opposition leaders to follow Turkey's example in doing so. Incumbent Turkish leaders made sure they never gave the Turkish army an excuse to intervene in government affairs by safeguarding traditional Turkish priorities both domestically and internationally, apparent in the cases of Kurdish militancy and EU accession. Secondly, they made the public's well being the government's top priority and introduced economic reforms to revitalize the fragile economy.
As was the case in Turkey, Pakistan's ruling party has remained close to public aspirations and kept its contact with the masses. If Pakistan's elected leadership can prevent spiraling inflation, it will win people's trust. Similarly, by combining negotiation tactics with military might, instead of just the latter, the new leadership may be able to isolate insurgents in border areas of the country.
Washington should lessen its expectations of Pakistan's military leaders and invest more in the country's elected representatives. The US strategic alliance with Musharraf has created the impression amongst Pakistanis that it does not genuinely favor a democratic Pakistan. Over the years, the United States has strengthened the army's rule over Pakistan by investing heavily in the military and by backing the country's successive military coups. These kinds of policies, combined with the country's own actions, have led to a marginalization of moderate forces in public life.
The West, and the United States in particular, must support Pakistan's newly elected representatives and encourage the army to respect the public mandate and serve the country within Pakistan's constitutional framework. Only then can Pakistan be truly democratic, and only then can the United States forge a meaningful relationship with the people of Pakistan.
Ershad Mahmud is an Islamabad-based researcher focusing on South Asia. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at www.commongroundnews.org.


Clic here to read the story from its source.