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Dictatorship has become a pattern of Pakistan’s national life?General Pervez Musharaf of Pakistan on June 20th declared himself as the President of Pakistan. Having assumed powers through a surprise and bloodless coup in October 1999, he had been constantly assuring every one around the world and inside the country that he would soon be handing over powers back to the peoples representatives as per the dictates of the supreme court. However those knowing the history of the 54 years old country were sure that soon he would be following the suit of his predecessors who had grabbed powers earlier in 1958,1969, and 1977. Then all such men on the horse back had promised the nation to be soon restoring democracy in the country. But alas on every occasion the military turned politicians would become Presidents through their own decrees issued in the country interests. Hence General Pervez Musharaf’s assumption of all powers by himself has again proved the very corollary that once the men in military uniform succeeds in grabbing powers they would keep it for themselves for unlimited period. This has also refresh the famous saying about dictators that they do not vanish because sooner or later some one does emerges to play the very role. Also a recognized norm of such usurpation has been the inability of such generals to get off the back of the bear that in the first instance they feel easier to ride. In 1958 when the first military coup in Pakistan took place General Ayub Khan had held politicians responsible for having forced him to take such an extreme step. Later condemning most of such politicians he could enforce his own written constitution that resulted into his prolonged rule. Next came General Yahya Khan in 1969 who took over as Chief Martial administrator and promised to be handing over all powers to the peoples representatives once such representatives were elected. Yet mention was the rule of General Zia ul Haq (1977-1988) who was given a state burial on his death in an air crash. He too had promised to be handing over power to the peoples representative within 90 days but failed to do so due to various reasons. In 1988 when democracy was revived in Pakistan through general elections every body was optimistic that Pakistan would no more coups and dictatorial regimes in future. The last elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif even dared to abolish all constitutional ambiguities that had made the occurrence of military takeovers still probable. Hence restoring the supremacy of the parliament once for all he was glad to have buried the military rule in Pakistan once for all. But despite all such measures the military coup once again occurred in Pakistan. And this time it occurred in a very sensational and dramatic way. General Pervez Musharaff was flying home from Sri Lanka when an hour before his arrival the Pakistan Television announced the appointment of his successor. No doubt this fresh appointment made by the prime minister was by no way according to the prescribed practices. This enraged the associates of the chief of staff who could finally land on Karachi airport with a new future in his mind. Hence Pakistan had to indulge once again in an uncertain living as all oscillating concepts of institutionalism, constitutionalism and democracy were faded away. This could proved that besides political parties, parliament, judiciary, and executive the Pakistan’s armed forces had attained a status of national institution that by virtue of being armed was supreme to the rest. This could aroused a valid question as why the armed forces despite its role and duties and functions defined was not behaving the way it ought to. Transgression of its defined role and repeated indulgence into the areas other than warranted of the armed forces means that this very professional group has in Pakistan developed a pattern of its own. This character on the part of the armed forces can hardly be justifiable in any civilized society of the 21st century. The repeated emergence of the armed forces into the power corridors during the last 54 years does count up to almost half of the country’s age. On the very rough basis this suggest that the armed forces in Pakistan have earned for itself a dominating status with cent percent capabilities to influence the pace of national developments as per its own choice. Further its members being the healthiest, more wealthy and wise have become cream of the society and have comparatively higher standard of living in the country. Being the off shoot of the Indian army raised by Great Britain in the colonial India, character of the Pakistan armed forces has contradicted the isolationists theory and as such it could hardly be kept isolated of the national political life. Such a Bonapartism in the contemporary era has correctly led the country to a stalemate rendering the politicians and their political activities fruitless. This is but alarming for the theory and practice of human emancipations, rule of law, and Human Rights.
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