Democracy remained elusive in Pakistan for too long a time. For the first time in her history of 66 years, one democratically elected regime has transacted to another democratically elected Government after the former completed its full tenure of five years. This is something that ordinary Pakistanis did not believe would happen. It happened, and that is what makes us say that it is a victory for Pakistani democracy. A few instances of violence have taken place during the election especially in the turbulent metropolitan of Karachi. Fifty persons are reported to have lost their lives. But given the scale of threat relentlessly issued by TTP, one may say that by and large, people have shown determination to meet the challenge and silence the terrorists. More than 60 per cent polling took place while it was only 44 per cent in the last poll. Current successful election has belied the belief that Pakistani society is unable to adopt democratic political dispensation given that debilitating factors like feudalism, terrorism, religious extremism, corruption and sectarianism are too strong to be curbed by even the representative Government. It is yet too premature to reflect on the performance of the incumbent government on these issues, but the fact remains that Pakistani civil society has the will to stand up to challenges of denying them democratic rights.
Independent and right wing groups would be willing to cooperate with the single largest majority party. There is no doubt that a strong majority-led Government will be formed with scope to take crucial decisions in the interests of the nation. Entire world, including our country, is relieved to know that Pakistani democracy has come to stay in the strife-torn country where violence, corruption and uncertainty had become the order of the day. Current election has proved that Pakistani society has the strength and ability to stand up to the challenges facing it and prevail on circumstances created by unwise and disastrous policies of previous regimes.
In his victory rally in Lahore Mian Nawaz Sharif has said that he would invite all-party meet to discuss most burning issues haunting the country; receding economy, rising terrorism and religious extremism, corruption, power deficit, sectarian strife, minority issues, foreign relations and a host of other problems. It is admirable that he has imbibed the spirit of democrat approach to political issues and will invite groups for collectively finding solution to national problems. Foremost of all other things, when a party is returned to power, its leadership should stop thinking in partisan manner and behave rightly as the leader of the entire nation. In other words, it means he has to forget all bitterness of campaigning and then take one and all, including the opposition, on board in matters of primary national interests. Hopefully Nawaz Sharif will respond to that condition. The realisation that violence and terror are like canker eating into the vitals of Pakistani society should induce the ruling group and all other groups through its persuasions that this evil has to be eradicated lock, stock and barrel from Pakistani society. Gun culture introduced in Pakistan first during Soviet-Afghan war and later spreading its tentacles within the broad spectrum of Pakistani civil society, can be curbed and uprooted only through collective efforts of all political parties and groups. The basics that violence cannot solve any problem have not only to be realised but also put into practice. The world will very eagerly watch Mian Nawaz Sharif doing good homework to take his country out of the notorious list of terrorism-breeding countries. Army has had a strong role in Pakistan. But as democratic dispensation is on road to stabilization, Army will have to make its role compatible with the wishes and aspirations of the people who have sent in an elected Government. As such one should expect a new pattern of relationship developing between the civilian government and the army. If good sense prevails, Pakistan Army might try for change of heart and understand that its prestige and power derive inspiration from a democratic Government formed by the people.
There are many issues that will prove a test of Mian Nawaz Sharif’s astute statesmanship. Relations with Afghanistan, handling of religious extremist groups at home, relations with the US and last but not the least relations with India, the next door neighbour, are all to be handled on their merit. He is believed to be friendly towards India and has given expression to that sentiment on various occasions. His comment that in regard to Kashmir negotiations, he would take up the thread where he was forced to leave it after being ousted by Pervez Musharraf in a coup should generate hope of good days ahead in Indo-Pak relations. In his message of felicitations, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has invited Mian Nawaz Sharif to visit India. This gesture of good will has to be strengthened on both sides. The two countries have to open new chapter in their relationship. Kashmir solution is a stumbling block and it will remain so as long terrorist camps are intact along the LoC and infiltration bids continue unabated. For creating an atmosphere conducive for resumption of bilateral talks, two things would be the pre-requisites, dismantling of terrorist structures and termination of infiltration bids along LoC and IB. Nawaz Sharif will have to reform relations with the US in the light of NATOs war on terror in Afghanistan and parts of NWFP of Pakistan. A trilateral or multilateral negotiating exercise among the stakeholders alone can find a viable solution to Afghan crisis. Prospects for such negotiations have brightened in the wake of successful elections in Pakistan.
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