Military dictators have ruled our country for 31 years, which means that our political system has not matured.
LAHORE: Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s statement that the upcoming elections should be free and fair and should be held on time is a good omen. Only a professional general can be expected to have such an outlook. Had Field Marshal Ayub Khan, General Ziaul Haq and General (retd) Pervez Musharraf thought in this manner, our history could have been different. We always blame politicians for the present circumstances of our country and forget that many of them are the product of dictatorial regimes. Ayub introduced Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Zia introduced Mian Nawaz Sharif and Musharraf became, directly or indirectly, a cause of President Asif Ali Zardari’s induction into office.
Military dictators have ruled our country for 31 years, which means that our political system has not matured. When we talk about developed political systems like that of the UK or the US, we forget how much time they took to develop. There is a need to allow free and fair elections to be held regularly. Over time, the fear of accountability at the hands of voters will teach politicians true democratic values. We must appreciate General Kayani’s role in the evolution of democracy. Our judiciary and some politicians have also played a constructive role. This spirit is essential for building an ideal political system.
Suleman Mansha
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2013.
