Pakistan Alert: Revolution in the Making? Democracy in Pakistan

I find the article rather thoughtful and would like to add a few comments of my own.

Democracy is supposed to be the means to good governance and not the objective. It must provide a common man the following as a minimum:

1. Security for his life and his possessions

2. Education for his children

3. Opportunities to earn a living in a dignified manner

In Pakistan’s case democracy has failed miserably to deliver the goods. The elected leaders simply became dictators. Both Benazir and Nawaz Sharif, in spite of the fact that they were thrown out once before, did exactly what they had done before – looted and plundered the poor common man once again. One would have thought that Sharif brothers had accumulated enough wealth during their first term to last several generations and during their second term they would sincerely work for the common man but alas, their greed went to new heights.

Nawaz Sharif made a mockery out of the institutions and one by one destroyed them. His own cabinet and the parliament became rubber-stamping bodies, supporting his every whim. What sort of a democracy is that where the Prime Minister simply cannot be terminated in spite of gross incompetence? He amended the constitution so the President could not fire him; no member of his own party could dissent without getting fired and so on. Basically Mr. Sharif was turning into a Firaun and Allah has His own ways of taking care of such individuals.

During Sharif’s regime the country lost ground on just about every front – economy kept going downhill fast; foreign investments basically dried up; law and order was totally out of control with extremely serious long term problems arising out of so called Mujahedeen – but actually terrorists; foreign policy was anchorless with even an old friend like China starting to keep distance from Pakistan. It was all because of Sharif and his team’s lack of sincerity to the nation, incompetence, greed for their own wealth, nepotism, putting themselves above the law and so on.

Allah (SWT) is very kind to this nation of ours. He keeps giving us opportunities. I believe another opportunity has arrived. Whatever I have heard of General Musharraf from my Army friends, he is a thorough professional, honest and a down to earth individual who makes things happen. Let us have faith in him and work with him. Each and every one of us should do our share of service to the country. As Kennedy once said “Do not ask what the country has done for you. Ask what you have done for the country.” Let us pray that Allah (SWT) keeps General Musharraf on the right path and also keeps him safe from the evils. I propose that we should let him rule the country for a period of 2-3 years until all corrupt politicians have been sidelined permanently and start afresh with democracy with new and sincere blood.