Myth: Pakistan's so called democracies were better than the current regime

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© 2006 M. Usman

The Decade of Darkness: Shamocracies in Pakistan

Pakistan’s decade of democracy can be more aptly described as a decade of darkness. The era of democracy witnessed two democratically elected governments destroy the very fledgling democracy that brought them to power. The Sharif and Bhutto regimes were marred in corruption, economic stagnation, civil disorder and a culture of nepotism. Pakistan was on the verge of bankruptcy barely able to pay interest on 38 billion dollars of back-breaking debt. Critical government positions became a revolving door for unqualified party lackeys. The economy was in shambles, the youth disaffected and a middle class stretched to its limits. Karachi was paralyzed with fear, strikes, curfews, ethnic and sectarian violence. Economic indicators were placing Pakistan just above the ranks of Rwanda, Somalia and Haiti. This was the state of the 'union’ when general Musharraf took over the country. The ensuing seven years have shown Pakistan is better off with a goal-driven, result-oriented military leadership than a corrupt, self-serving, ethno-centric democracy.

Harvard alumnus, Ms. Bhutto, gave the people great hope after the incompetent dictatorship of general Zia-ul-Haq but her government was embroiled in corruption and civil disorder. So blatant was the level of nepotism that Ms. Bhutto’s husband, Asif Zardari, was appointed federal minister of investments. Mr. Zardari’s kickback schemes were documented in detail by various BBC specials. The urban centers of Sind were on the verge of a full-blown war between various ethnic factions. Journalists from Jang were beaten for unfavorable editorials in this sham democracy. Karachi’s law and order situation had deteriorated into a national nightmare. Pakistan’s fickle public was openly demanding for a military takeover.

The Sharif regime certainly did not fare any better. An increasingly authoritarian Mr. Sharif rewrote the constitution, demoted the president to a ceremonial figurehead, dismissed the chief justice due to corruption charges, coached general karamat into retirement and promoted some amiable fellow named Pervaiz. In short order, the democratically elected industrialist had effectively become king of Pakistan. His policies and expensive projects bankrupted the Pakistani treasury. Indian editorials gleefully pointed out the fact Pakistan’s per capita income had dipped to the level of sub-Saharan countries. An increasingly empowered India was prematurely celebrating the final death blow to the two nation theory. By the end of the 90’s, Mr. Sharif and Ms. Bhutto had ravaged the nation under the façade of democracy.

It is inconvenient to recall these dire circumstances inherited by General Musharraf after his atypical coup d’etat of October 1999. This selective amnesia may be the result of 7 years of relative prosperity. Pakistan’s economy has experienced unprecedented growth of 6% to 8% for the last 6 years. The economy is experiencing the second fastest growth in Asia. If such robust growth can be sustained for another 7 years, Pakistan could be a transformed into a middle income nation. Per capita income has increased to 815$ which is the highest in the region. 10 million people have been rescued from poverty. Exports have increased by 22 per cent. For the first time in history, foreign exchange reserves have crossed the 13 billion dollar mark. In 1999, India’s foreign exchange reserves were 40 times higher than Pakistan. By 2002, this disparity declined to a more proportionate 8 times the reserves of Pakistan. External debt has been rescheduled and restructured. The tax code was simplified and a record amount was collected from loan defaulters and tax evaders. Revenue collection has increased by 22%. International attitudes about Pakistan have shifted dramatically attracting 2 billion dollars annually in foreign direct investment. FDI has increased by a whopping 120% versus the decade of democracy. Even the staunchest critics of Pakistan’s economic policies such as IMF and World Bank now praise President Musharraf’s economic initiatives. The man appointed by President Musharraf and credited with much of the accelerated economic growth is Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. Not since Berkeley graduate Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto has Pakistan been lead by such an astute and qualified individual. Mr. Aziz was declared Finance Minister of the year by EuroMoney and Banker’s Magazine in 2001. Mr. Aziz’s repertoire includes leading the global finance division of one of the world’s biggest and most profitable companies. The Armani suited Shaukat could be living a life of luxury on some island resort after his illustrious career in banking. Inexplicably, he has chosen a life of repeated assassinations, suicide bombs and political mudslinging to become the principal architect of Pakistan’s economic turnaround. The pair has managed to do the seemingly impossible by attracting foreign capital to a country advertised as the epicenter of terrorism by foreign media. Development can be seen all over the country. A seven-star 250 million dollar hotel is being built in Islamabad by investors of Dubai’s Burj-al-Arab fame. IT and BPO exports, while small, are increasing yearly. Gulf Countries are investing heavily in President Musharraf’s vision for gwadar. The economy even absorbed a devastating earthquake, political tremors, regional wars, drought and floods. The Musharraf–Aziz tandem is a far cry from the days when Mr. Zardari was the caretaker of the country’s financial “interests”. Even the harshest critics of the military have reluctantly conceded that President Musharraf’s tenure has been the best Pakistani administration for decades. Perhaps the greatest accomplishment is the restoration of hope and pride in a cynic Diaspora. Droves of Pakistanis have returned to their homeland with dollars, pounds and riyals in hand, further supplementing a growing economy. In a recent interview, an Analyst from the widely respected Economist magazine stated “he (President Musharraf) has made some sensible moves such as privatizing 5 billion dollars worth of state assets to bidders. Needless red tape has been removed, tax regulations and tax collection has been improved. If he is able to complete his objectives, history will smile upon him”.

Politically, President Musharraf has taken some courageous actions. Who can argue with his u-turn against misguided extremists in the post 9/11 world? The Talibanization of Pakistan has been reversed. Feudal lords, the scourge of Pakistan, are feeling the wrath of the military. Ethnic and sectarian violence is relatively subdued despite the best efforts of covert foreign intervention. Semi-literate mullahs that misinterpret Islam by preaching hatred have been arrested. An open exchange of ideas is taking place in a vibrant media that enjoys unprecedented freedom. He has walked a tightrope and chosen a path of sanity by joining the world against extremists evicted from the Sudan and Afghanistan. No international forum is spared without a mention of Kashmiri and Palestinian struggle.

The Musharraf administration has reformed many public services and upgrades to the social sector. Roads and infrastructure are being upgraded and local governance has improved. 400 million dollars is being spent on renewable energy. Karachi is visibly cleaner due to energetic and youthful local governance. 100 million dollars is being spent on the Karachi mega-city project. While previous administrations have paid lip service to development of the smaller provinces, President Musharraf has converted words into action. A record amount of the national budget has been allocated for the smaller provinces. An intelligent and coherent strategy has been put forward for the development of an energy, transportation and trade corridor from Gwadar to Central Asia. 3 major pipelines (TAPI, IPI, QP) are being pursued to transfer energy to thirsty neighboring giants India and Pakistan. Makhran highway among other infrastructure projects has been seen through completion. Money has been poured into education although much of the funds are stolen by a corrupt lower-level bureaucracy. Educational reforms introduced by Chaudary Pervez Elahi in Punjab are being adopted nationally to check corruption. While previous administrations have bickered endlessly over water and energy y shortages, President Musharraf has undertaken the initiative of building dams and reactors that will cushion the nation from energy outages, droughts and floods.

This is not to say Mr. Musharraf’s resume is free of blemishes. Undoubtedly, President Musharraf has made several mistakes and these errors in judgment are dissected regularly in countless editorials. A hastily organized referendum was certainly a major mistake. Propping up a theocratic MMA was another. The kargil fiasco is widely attributed to then General Musharraf. Incursions into Wana have done nothing but expose the federation’s weakness. Unnecessarily blunt and insensitve comments about Mukhtar Mai is yet another blow to our already battered public image. Purchases of expensive, high-maintenance F16s from a notoriously unreliable supplier is yet another mistake. Pakistan’s economic losses due to the American invasion of Afghanistan were underestimated thus undercutting foreign aid. However, Mr. Musharraf’s vision, reforms and track record far exceeds that of his so-called democratic predecessors. While previous military and democratic leaders have been self-serving failures, President Musharraf has actually strengthened many of the institutions required for a proper democracy. By all accounts, Pakistan was headed on a nose-diving trajectory. It was resurrected from the depths of failure by the astute leadership of the current military regime. From restoring civil liberties, empowering women and minorities, promoting education, upgrading infrastructure to reviving the economy, the statistics are indisputable. The general has been good for the country. Some day, we will have a true democracy. Until that day, we will choose an honest military man over ineffective, authoritarian 'democracies'.