In a country that has been ruled for more than 30 years by the military suppress changes are taking place. In a place where material law was the standard, liberal voices are now being heard. Senior military officials say that the new approach toward liberalism, moderate Islam and western style democracy is an attempt to show up the govt of Nawaz Sharif, Army officials express frustration with politicians but say that they are committed to protecting democracy. “We would rather see the Prime Minister, the president, and the national assembly making decisions than us. We are behind the prime minister. We talk the same language.
Sharif, despite being one of Pakistan’s largest industrialists is viewed as a representative of the urban middle class and a moderate on Islamic issues. The military leadership reflects the middle class values of many are the officer corps. This contrasts sharply with the political elite, which is still dominated by large land owners, tribal leaders, owners of large companies and drug trafficking.. The emergence of the army in the name of moderation has been welcomed by many libels, unities a welcome timed with irony. A leading liberal recently commented, “It’s good, but it’s a shame it had come from the army and not the people of Pak and the ballot box.
The new alliance between the army and the P.M. could isolate resident Glan Ishaq Khan, who is perceived to be radical and supportive of the religious right. A showdown has been dooming between the Sharif govt. and the religious parties. “They are fringe elements,” said a senior military official, the fundamentalists have only eight members in the 235 seat National Assembly.
The current civilian military consensus is bringing results. Pakistan has announced that it has urging the afghan mujahedeen to support the UN programs for peace. This is seen as a sign that Islamabad may be ready to drop the radical afghan guerilla groups who oppose peace. If this proves sure it’s possible that the refugees will go home. There have been about a million Afghan refugees in Pak for the last 13 years.
Battle likes have not been drawn between fundamentalism and the new liberal army. Few believe that the religious groups will take on the army politically. But pressure has been mounting from the religious right to islamicise the economy and the banking system. This followed a recent ruling from the Islamic law court that the payment on charging of interest in forbids as “Riba or usury by the Koren, The Riba issue brought out protests from some liberals. Two cabinet ministers declared that if passed, the ruling would bank rupt Pak and possibly cause financial collapse. The ruling will become law in June unless i am over turned but him Supreme Court. The possibility has panicked the banking system; Foreign aid doors say that the system is unworkable and would end development aid. This is a country that relies on foreign aid for most of its development budget and who now is seeing investors pulling out of major projects.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 6, 1992
