DEMOCRACY for Pakistan should be strengthened said Pervez Musharraf, former president who remained in power for nearly a decade, recently. He stated that “civilian governments in Pakistan have never performed”.

In his recent interview to American Radio in Washington, Mr Musharraf repeatedly said that civilian governments in Pakistan had never proved their mark during their respective tenures.

The military dictator seized power ousting the democratically-elected Nawaz Sharif government in a military coup in 1999. He led the country into internal and external chaos and finally left Pakistan in disgrace in 2008.

The question is, if Pervez Musharraf thinks that civilian governments are unable to deliver to the people, why has he then decided to enter politics in a civilian role?

It must be remembered that Pakistan was founded as a democracy after the partition of the subcontinent. Needless to say the numerous crises Pakistan is facing today are mostly due to the former president's poor policies.

Military rule is inherently bad. Under democracy each individual has an equal voice in deliberating upon and deciding collective policies.

It also enables people to practise every thought of theirs and, above all, it embodies the basic moral value of fundamental human equality and dignity. Development cannot take place in its true sense unless democracy is allowed to take root. Democracy for Pakistan is a must and should be strengthened in order to ensure a brighter future for the country.

WARIS SHERE
Canada