Opinion - Editorials

Historic breakthrough

The decision by the two major political parties in Pakistan to form coalition governments at the federal level and in Punjab province is a historic breakthrough. It speaks to their determination to restore democracy on a basis stronger than anything Pakistan has had since independence. While the voters did not give a majority to either the Pakistan People’s Party or the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Sharif) in the February 18 general election, the outcome was a splen did reaffirmation of the electorate’s preference for a parliamentary system of governance. The people of Pakistan expressed their abhorrence of military dictatorship as well as self-serving autocratic rule by presidential decree when they inflicted a humiliating defeat on the ‘King’s Party.’ Not surprisingly, the parties took their time to choose between two different modes of giving effect to the people’s mandate. The easy course would have been to opt for an arrangement in which the PPP formed the federal government with the PML(N) extending support from outside; and for the two parties reversing roles in Punjab province. An arrangement of this sort would not have lacked democratic merit so long as the parties worked together to recast the Constitution to its pre-dictatorship form, restore the sacked judges, revive media freedom, and enhance provincial autonomy. In agreeing to form coalition governments in Islamabad and Lahore, the PPP and PML(N) have courageously gone the extra mile, taking risks in the bargain. That the six-point Murree Declaration sets them on a direct collision course with retired general Pervez Musharraf makes this democratic solidarity all the more inspiring.

The decision to become joint stakeholders in governance and early signs of willingness to give and take bode well for the unlikely coalition. Due credit must be given to PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari for resisting the pressures exerted, and rejecting the allurements offered, by President Musharraf. Mr. Zardari must be especially commended for endorsing the second point of the Murree Declaration that courageously declares “the deposed judges would be restored, on the position as they were on November 2, 2007, within 30 days of the formation of the federal government through a parliamentary resolution.” This could be the flashpoint of the latest phase of the democratic struggle against the dictator who cannot possibly carry on as head of state if the higher judiciary regains its independence. While Mr. Zardari made the cutting edge decision, Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan’s civil society, above all the agitating lawyers, must be lauded for ensuring that the key democratic forces adhered to the honourable and principled course.

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