For the last sixty years of its existence, Pakistan has been subjected to undemocratic practices, for whatever reason it may be, but the time to set things right is now. Now is the time to set the nation in the right direction. Ironically the correct direction for this nation, which was created in a very democratic fashion, has been given by a military man.

President Musharraf, only till recently the chief of the Pakistan army, has done the Pakistani nation the biggest favor since independence by letting the democratic, even if wantingly democratic, opposition win the national elections but now it is up to the elected representatives of the people to prove that they are capable of running the country democratically in letter and spirit.

But that is easier said than done. I will not recall past instances because we all know how execrable our political past has been. Currently, there is much talk on the national media about government formation at the Centre and in the provinces. No matter what shape the new government takes, there is general expectation in the country, in the media as well as among the people, that the new government that comes in will remove their problems and turn Pakistan into a paradise where they can live peacefully with their families and children.

As much as I want the people’s good hopes to materialize, I would point out the realities that may shatter their dreams.

The realities of the times are such that no government, civilian or military, or any other sort can be successful in alleviating, even by half, the plethora of problems that have accumulated for the country’s people during the last sixty years.

Though there are many problems that may be mentioned one that is most pressing and immediate and which may threaten one’s very life is that of terrorism. Even as I write, when the so-called undemocratic government of the PML-Q had ceased to exist and when the parties previously in opposition had been elected to head the new government, a bomb blast in a bus carrying a bridal party had killed as many as 15 innocent women and children including the groom and bride!

So we see that the terrorism problem has nothing to do with what sort of government was in power in Pakistan or which party was in government. The terrorists have their own agenda and they will surely have to be tackled immediately by the incoming government.

Then there is the issue of prices which is very close to the hearts of the people of Pakistan. Steadily rising international prices of essential commodities such as that of petroleum products, edible oil and food products are not going to be easily managed if at all.

The above are two of the basic problems facing the people of Pakistan and it is doubtful whether any government will be able to tackle them successfully. The wisest thing to do therefore would be to overlook all bitterness of the past and set up a government as broad based as possible.

But the most important thing to do, succeed or not, would be to make a real democracy function in the country and I am sure that people and their watchdogs, by and large, are fully able to recognize whether a genuine effort to solve the problems has been made by the government or not.

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Tags: Army, Chief, Democracy, Government, Musharraf