2/24/2003 5:49:37 PM

Can anyone tell exactly what kind of a system of government is there in Pakistan? Is it a parliamentary democracy, as elections for the national and state legislatures were held on October 10 last year? Is it some kind of a presidential system, as President Pervez Musharraf continues to run the show? Or is it a military regime with the Chief of Army Staff holding unfettered powers? The only answer that appears to be correct is that it is a sham democracy or a facade of democracy under General Musharraf, who continues to occupy Rawalpindi’s General Headquarters, the office of Chief of Army Staff. The Presidential referendum that he organised to perpetuate his rule could not give him enough confidence to delink himself from the army. Perhaps, he understands that the 95 per cent plus votes that he secured will not be able to sustain him in the position he holds. The referendum controversy could not die down when the time came for the general election in accordance with ruling of the Supreme Court. The General has got a government of his men installed in Islamabad with the facade of having been elected by the people of Pakistan. The elected Prime Minister, Mr Zafarullah Khan Jamali, has to dance to the tunes of General Musharraf. He just cannot function independently. There is an incomplete parliament (National Assembly, as they call it in Pakistan). The Senate elections are yet to be held. So, it cannot come in the way of the military ruler, though that will not amount to more than creating an embarrassing situation for him. Parliament is yet to hold its inaugural session. According to Shaheen Sehbai of South Asian Tribune, “This is deliberate to the last dot as Musharraf and his henchmen are managing and ensuring that each step is according to what they think is the right script. Caught in this depressing situation is Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali, who does not know whether to go to the left or to the right. He has been despatched to several foreign capitals just to show that he was now the head of government, but in all crucial foreign policy discussions not even one trusted man of Jamali has been included. The talks with General Tommy Franks of CENTCOM and Musharraf’s visit to Russia were glaring examples when Jamali or his men were kept out, deliberately.” General Musharraf has given clear instructions to his Prime Minister that decisions having financial implications should not be finalised without taking the Cabinet into confidence, particularly the President’s most trusted nominee, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz. This was proved following the controversy that arose after Mr Jamali’s announcement reducing the official price of wheat atta by Re 1. Shaheen Sehbai says, “Shaukat Aziz vetoed the move and Jamali was helpless.” The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Washington at the end of March, but media people do not attach much significance to it. He is not supposed to make any policy announcement. This is the prerogative of President Musharraf. Influential world capitals are very clear about who is calling the shots in Pakistan despite an elected government being there. When Russian President Vladimir Putin recently invited General Musharraf to Moscow for significant discussions the matter led to a hot debate. Ultimately, it was accepted that there was only a facade of democracy in Pakistan. Col Masud Akhtar Shaikh (retd) says in an article carried in The News: “People more observant than others have been talking about the frequent meetings that have been taking place between the President and the Prime Minister at the President’s House ever since the latter took the oath of office. They interpret this also as an indication that Mr Jamali has to take the blessings of the President in all matters affecting the day-to-day working of the government.” Now is there any doubt that the much-publicised elections have brought no democracy in Pakistan. It is General Musharraf’s rule, nothing more. And his political opponents seem to be learning to live with this fait accompli.