HOME
home 
about icg 
programs
  Africa 
  Asia 
  Europe 
  Latin America 
  Middle East 
  Issues 
reports
  by region 
  by date 
  by keyword 
crisiswatch 
media
  media releases 
  articles/op. eds 
  speeches 
  media contacts 
contact us 
donate to icg 
vacancies 
links 

 subscribe
 home  programs  asia  south asia  pakistan
search
 
  Pakistan: Democracy needed, not more military rule
President Musharraf’s plans perpetuate military power, instability

Islamabad/Brussels, 3 October 2002: National elections will be held in Pakistan on 10 October. Ahead of the vote, President Pervez Musharraf, who led the October 1999 coup, has promised that he will restore democracy and transfer power to an elected government. However his military government is following the pattern of Pakistan’s previous military rulers by unilaterally instituting political and constitutional changes intended to ensure that the generals retain the real power and any democratic transition falters before it begins.

A new ICG report published today, Pakistan: Transition to Democracy?, says both the military and the political elite are to blame for the failure of the country to develop democratic government. ICG South Asia Project Director Samina Ahmed said: “The political elite succumbed in the past to the military’s tactics, tempted by the spoils of power, and is again facing a blueprint for more military rule”.

External pressure, especially from the United States and the European Union, is vital if President Musharraf is to fulfil his pledge to restore democracy. Washington and its allies have so far said little, in the misguided belief that Pakistan’s military is the only institution that can combat terrorism in the region and hold back the tide of Islamist extremism.

Samina Ahmed said: “A military government in Pakistan has already exacerbated tensions with India over Kashmir, and elements of the military have used the jihadis for their own purposes. Political stability will elude Pakistan until the country has a representative government. There is a high risk that the coming elections will not be free and fair – but if they are – the victors will be the major, moderate parties who are sympathetic to U.S. goals in the region, who have their own reasons to normalise relations with India and curb the powers of extremist groups”.

The “reforms” proposed by Musharraf would actually give the President much greater powers, including the power to dissolve the National Assembly. The President has warned parliamentarians that if they do not accept his amendments they will lose their jobs. Electoral procedures have been revised, disqualifying scores of politicians from standing, including former prime ministers who lead the major opposition parties, while the judiciary has been subordinated to the executive through forced resignations, selective appointments and inducements.

ICG urges Pakistan to conduct a free and fair election and to ensure that local and international observers have secure and unrestricted access to the electoral process. Most importantly, the U.S., EU and the rest of the international community should insist that all restrictions on freedom of association and freedom of speech are lifted, and make clear to President Musharraf that it will not be acceptable for military rule to continue indefinitely, whether directly or behind a democratic façade.


MEDIA CONTACTS
Katy Cronin (London) +44.20.86.82.93.51 – email: [email protected]

Ana Caprile (Brussels) +32-(0)2-536.00.70
Jennifer Leonard (Washington) +1-202-408 8012
This report and all ICG reports are available on our website www.crisisweb.org

The International Crisis Group (ICG) is a private, multinational organisation, with over 80 staff members on five continents, working through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy to prevent and resolve deadly conflict.



comments


copyright privacy sitemap