Pakistan--On the Road to Democracy?

Abdullah Riar, a physician and a member of the Pakistan Senate, updated a Wilson Center audience on October 19 on the political situation in Pakistan. A member of Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, Riar conceded that his country's political history since its creation in 1947 had been disappointing, but was upbeat all the same about the future of political pluralism in Pakistan. The cause of democracy in his nation, he asserted, is anything but hopeless.

Riar blamed a semi-authoritarian mindset and feudal attitudes prevalent in Pakistan for the country's failures over the years to build strong political institutions and a vibrant democratic tradition. Under the current regime of General/President Pervez Musharraf, Riar averred, Pakistan has experienced "a militarization of Pakistani institutions" and a "politicization of Pakistan's military." He accused the Musharraf government of manipulating the political process in a manner that has reinforced ethnic and sectarian fault lines in Pakistan and strengthened the country's religious parties at the expense of the traditional secular parties. Only democracy, Riar asserted, can successfully address Pakistan's many shortcomings in the economic and social spheres, or combat the extremism that fosters terrorism.

Pakistanis are ready for democracy, Riar insisted. The growing urbanization of the country and the access even of poor rural Pakistanis to the world of ideas through the electronic media and the internet have increased the expectations that Pakistanis hold for their own governors. Pakistanis, he declared, were much impressed by the recent spectacle of the mayor of New Orleans openly upbraiding the president of the United States for the handling of the relief effort following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. If other peoples have this freedom, Pakistanis ask, if other peoples can dismiss their leaders, why should Pakistanis not also enjoy such opportunities?

Riar urged the United States to use its great influence on Musharraf to encourage him to permit the restoration of real democracy in Pakistan. Washington should press for genuinely free elections, for the establishment of an independent electoral commission, and for the separation of the two positions of president and chief of army staff. Riar praised the "freedom agenda" of President George W. Bush and urged the Bush administration to recognize that democracy in the Islamic world, starting with Pakistan, is "a national security and core interest of the United States."

The recent earthquake in Kashmir, which appears to have taken more than 40,000 lives, and whose victims are still in dire need, was very much on the minds of all participants in this event. Following Dr. Riar's opening comments, Akbar Khawaja -- like Riar a physician and a member of the Pakistan Senate -- offered brief remarks on the tragedy and the urgency required to address the basic needs of the large number of Pakistani victims.

Drafted by Robert M. Hathaway, Director, Asia Program, Ph: (202) 691-4020