Democracy finally demonstrated the possibilities of people’s power in Pakistan despite all odds and proved that great fortunes of President Musharraf did not last forever with opposition parties emerged as winner though no clear majority for a single party. So what the Muslim nation needs this time is a coalition politics like its neighbour India who is so far successful in delivering the result.
Pakistan Peoples’ Party President Asif Ali Zardari said after the verdict “world today has heard the message of the people of Pakistan”, however he had to prove a lot in developing a true coalition without splitting a political spectrum and making the nation an Islamic welfare state and not a safe ground for jehadi war. A national coalition government with a proper coalition between Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) can be seen as the best solution to end the long disarray in Pakistan.
Though Pakistan got independence the same time as India did, but the army involvement in politics further makes the situation worse making it only a security state from the point of view of India and Kashmir issue. In fact the nation never got the time to get over from its trial and error to build a more effective political institution as army kept invading the people’s ruling plot.
India too as one of the most successful democratic country took over 40 years to get over from the cartel of one single party ‘Congress’ and make some successful ruling of coalition era under leadership from different parties. Pakistan as well should try to experiment with such form of government.
Coming back to the coalition politics Musharraf will be hoping for disparity between Zardari and Sharif as the history of clash between the two parties suggests. On one hand Zardari had already made a wish to invite Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party, a party in proximity to Musharraf and on the other Sharif’s PML is not likely to accept the offer of a PPP led coalition government.
Talking about Indian coalition politics that has become the contemporary and rising trend in augmenting democratic legitimacy despite the instability attached to it has been a successful tool thus far.
At the very moment the Muslim nation too need such democratic establishment with party integration that advocates national unity and people’s representation.
In India the dominant party system ended with the Congress minority government of PV Narasimha Rao, a full term from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the present Congress-Left alliance UPA should give a lesson to Pakistan to come out with a strong and best combined coalition government beginning a new era in Pakistan.
Considering the charter of democracy signed by Benazir, the assassinated PPP leader and former prime minister of Pakistan to change some important constitutional changes including the article that sets President to dismiss parliament; it now looks certain that whosoever comes in coalition politics would like to push Musharraf into impeachment citing constitutional violence.
In fact it was Musharraf’s constant attempt to hold on power with all possible means in a country having so many cracks that proved to be the most destabilizing factor.
Lal Masjid incident that was presented as a citadel of terrorism can be seen as one of the significant turning point following chief justice sacking and then Bhutto’s assassination together set the course of Pakistan’s democracy.
No doubt Pakistan went to poll with much apprehension as leaders like Imran Khan; president of Tehreek-e-Insaaf political party was completely against the election fearing Musharraf’s victory and the nation’s death-knell. But in the end it’s the victory for the people of Pakistan that gives yet another chance and hope to change the world’s perception towards Pakistan.
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