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Changes in Pakistan

A NEW Constitutional amendment bill signed into law by President Musharraf in Pakistan yesterday, after due ratification by the National Assembly and Senate, is expected to give a new turn to the politics in a country where governments were run at times by politicians and at other times by military generals.

Under the new arrangement, Musharraf can stay on as President till 2007, but he will relinquish his post as Army chief by year-end next. He gets the powers to dismiss parliament, on condition that he will refer his decision to the Supreme Court which will rule on it in a matter of 30 days. Musharraf is set to win a confidence vote from the two houses of parliament and four provincial legislative assemblies today. Now the ball is in the hands of elected representatives. They should start cooperating with the government in the smooth conduct of parliamentary proceedings, unlike in the past year when there was a major deadlock. Politicians will have to accept the fundamentals of democracy, like the fact that a parliament will have a majority bloc, which is the ruling side, and a minority bloc, that is the opposition. In Pakistan, when politicians fought, they used to go to the military chief to seek his intervention, but in the aftermath of a military takeover, they would start making noises for restoration of democracy. Look at India, where the opposition and the government cooperate well and the system of democracy is upheld by rival sides who follow the rules of the game. They know the meaning of political dialogue, and solve problems that way. With new changes, it is time for Pakistan’s politicians to set a good example in democratic functioning. As for Musharraf, there is no doubt that the General is doing good things. Pakistan’s economy is in a better shape today and there are overall improvements in the life there. At international level, Musharraf’s decision to quit the post of Army chief will help the world recognise the democratic credentials of the country. For one, Pakistan could be back in the Commonwealth fold.