We, in Pakistan, have yet to see a government transfer power through peaceful means.
ISLAMABAD: The basic reason behind violent uprisings in parts of the Arab world, including Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and Jordan, is that power has never been transferred peacefully from one regime to the next, in an orderly manner.
The mode of transfer of power in advanced democracies is at massive variance with the manner in which the autocratic regimes cling to power in the less-developed parts of the globe. The British, French and American revolutions were sparked by the reluctance of the rulers to relinquish power in a peaceful manner.
Clearly, Hosni Mubarak needs to learn from history, since he ridiculously claims that he alone represents stability and that he will “defend Egypt”.
We, in Pakistan, have yet to see a government transfer power through peaceful means and your readers are welcome to correct me if I am wrong. If peaceful transfer of power had taken place regularly in Pakistan, the country would not have been dismembered by internal and external foes of the nation.
So where do we go from here? The government and the opposition have a joint responsibility to make the next transition orderly and peaceful through free, fair and impartial elections. If this is not done, Pakistan will descend into anarchy and chaos. I would also ask your readers to ask themselves: can we afford another violent transfer of power? And will Pakistan survive another subversion of the Constitution?
I am also deeply worried, even anguished, by the deafening silence of our otherwise vibrant civil society regarding the historic developments taking place in Tahrir Square in Cairo.
BA Malik
(Former ambassador)
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2011.
