Pakistan institutions prove their mettle

Pakistan institutions prove their mettle

The structures and strictures of democracy seem to work in Pakistan. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has stepped down, following Pakistan Supreme Court’s ruling disqualifying him for high political office for 10 years on account of corruption. It is likely to shift the institutional balance in Pakistan’s politics towards the army, which wields real power. For India, Sharif ’s disqualification means the absence of a counterpart who was open to spurts of dialogue and diplomacy. But in real terms, Pakistan’s India policy, which is closely determined by the army, will remain unchanged.
Despite the instability that could well follow Sharif ’s removal, the existence of a strong judiciary, one of the pillars of a democratic state, should give hope for Pakistan and its fragile democracy. That, however, is conditional on the court having acted independently, without paying heed to the wishes of the army. Ironically, the court’s ruling presents a fork in the path of democratic politics in Pakistan.
The absence of a clear and strong successor within the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, which still retains a legislative majority ahead of next year’s elections, remains a cause for concern. The situation could well lead to ruptures within the party. The ruling looks, at first blush, as a boost for cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, who has been calling for Sharif ’s removal since the Panama papers were made public in 2016. Khan has been closely associated with the more radical elements of Pakistani politics, which would weaken with stronger democratic politics.
For a generation now, Sharif has been an influential figure in Pakistan politics dominating the limited space that political parties have in the country. How Pakistan democracy shapes up will depend on what Sharif does next. Despite deep reservations about the manner in which the court handled the case, Sharif has stepped down. He could take a step back and guide his party, work the ruling in his party’s favour in the people’s court. Whatever the motivations, the Pakistan Supreme Court’s ruling on Sharif will leave an indelible mark on the evolving shape of democracy in that country.