Case of Pakistan

Major Decisions by Elected Leaders: General Musharraf’s rule of Pakistan from 1999 will give us one important feature of democracy

Case of Pakistan: In Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in October 1999, He overthrew a democratically elected government and declared himself the Chief Executive of the country. Later, he changed his designation to President. In 2002, he held a referendum in the country that granted him a five year extension. Pakistani media, human rights organisations said that the referendum was malpractices and fraud.

In August 2002, Musharraf issued a Legal Framework Order that amended the Constitution of Pakistan. According to this order, the President can dismiss the national or provincial assemblies. The work of the civilian cabinet is supervised by a National Security Council which is dominated by military officers. However, elected representative had some power but the final power was in the hands of military officers and General Musharraf himself.

During his rule, although the people may have elected representatives to the national and provincial Assemblies, these representatives were not allowed to take the final decisions. The final power rests with army and General Musharraf himself. This happens in many dictatorship and monarch systems.

They formly have an elected Parliament and government but real power is with those who are not elected. This condition cannot be termed as people’s rule. Thus, first feature of democracy is that in a democracy the final decision-making power must rest with those elected by the people.

Referendum: A general vote by the electorate on a single political which has been referred to them for a direct decision.

Cabinet: The committee of senior ministers responsible for controlling government

The process of democracy was again and again derailed in Pakistan. However, President Musharraf had claimed that he will leave a sustainable democracy set-up in Pakistan which will stop military takeover in the future. He also claimed that his government will create enough job opportunities, human resources, alleviate poverty and will improve the basic facilities of life but he also did not fulfill all these promises. Moreover, before elections, almost all political leaders promised that they will work for the welfare of the country when they came into power. However, still, all governments could not cope with the basic issues of common citizens. Therefore, the general public is still suffering from basic facilities of life, food and water shortage, energy crisis and poor health facilities. The former Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Nawaz Shareef claimed that through our policies and hard work we will make Pakistan a real welfare state. However, like the previous government, his government could not fulfill their promises. Lack of Democratic Norms Despite the fact that almost all political parties struggle for the restoration of democracy whenever thy. The process of democracy was again and again derailed in Pakistan. However, President Musharraf had claimed that he will leave a sustainable democracy set-up in Pakistan which will stop military takeover in the future. He also claimed that his government will create enough job opportunities, human resources, alleviate poverty and will improve the basic facilities of life but he also did not fulfill all these promises. Moreover, before elections, almost all political leaders promised that they will work for the welfare of the country when they came into power. However, still, all governments could not cope with the basic issues of common citizens. Therefore, the general public is still suffering from basic facilities of life, food and water shortage, energy crisis and poor health facilities. The former Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Nawaz Shareef claimed that through our policies and hard work we will make Pakistan a real welfare state. However, like the previous government, his government could not fulfill their promises.

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