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Pervez Musharraf has now tried to placate his opponents – by lifting the state of emergency, setting a date for elections, and, ostensibly, shedding his uniform. Despite the seeming success of activists and lawyers long calling for this last action, our cover image this issue, by Islamabad cartoonist Fauzia Minallah, depicts the true nature of the general’s decision: a naked power-grab by an autocrat who has silenced the Constitution and compromised the political parties.
Indeed, General (retd) Musharraf has now started down a time-tested road laid down by autocrats immemorial: when the laws don’t suit you, do some face-saving but don’t hesitate to change the rules! When justice has to be seen to be done, if not actually done, then just remove the judiciary! When the media persists in doing its job of informing the public, just ban it! When politicians don’t agree to some convenient deal-making, just blackmail them into submission! And, when the country’s beleaguered people come out onto the streets, just ignore them! Above all, use the fear of chaos, the stranglehold of the military over society, and the geopolitical weight of the US to bolster your place amidst a sullen populace.
Away from the cities, hurtling with increasing speed into chaos, are the tribal areas of Pakistan. In these frontiers and neglected regions, as in the populous Punjab and Sindh, frustrated citizens have next to no faith that any election drama will be able to do much more than ‘legitimise’ a regime that has no moral right to stay in power. The task of building credible democratic institutions is tough; pushing for accountability is even harder, particularly in a country caught in the web of military rule for too long. But it must be done, by people’s movements and political parties alike, before any hope of democracy is forsaken. |
