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Winds of change in Muslim Countries
7-11-2018
Winds of change through a democratic process are hurling through the Muslim Countries. Last week of June Turkey ushered in a new political governance system with a tried, tested and true leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Meanwhile, in Malaysia, they brought back, one of the longest serving heads of state, and now the oldest elected leader, at age ninety-two, one of their own tried, tested and true leader, Prime Minister, Mahatir Mohammed. All the eyes are now fixated at Pakistan, as Pakistanis head to the polls on July 25th. The question remains, will Pakistan also usher in a new era of change in its political leadership, or will it again submerse itself in its long standing political ideology of corrupt feudal leadership?
Let’s hope and pray that Pakistan also ushers in a new political tsunami under its own true patriotic son of the nation, Imran Khan, under the banner of Tehrik-e-Insaf party.
So far, the overall mood on the ground does seem to suggest that Pakistanis are also ready to usher in a new era of political leadership. However, if past elections, mired in rigging, are any indication. The change, which Pakistanis so dearly want, under the last flickering hope under Imran Khan leadership, just might remain an illusion.
First lets just try to understand what just happened in Turkey. To say the least, June 24, 2018, was a historic day for Turkey. When President Erdogan took an oath of office he also ushered in a new political governance system. Something, the people of Turkey wanted and ensured by electing Mr. Erdogan, whom they view it as the right person to be in-charge of. The overwhelming support given to Mr. Erdogan at the polls is testament of the faith Turkish people have in President Erdogan.
Mr. Erdogan had championed these changes, and led the way. These changes were agreed in 2017 through a referendum, but will only take affect now, paves the way for, which some critics describe as “One Man Rule.”
Under the new rules, President will lead the executive branch and issue presidential decrees to rule over wide range of areas. Power which once was vested with the parliament.
Also, the Office of the Prime Minister is abolished, and the president has the powers to appoint and dismiss Vice Presidents, ministers, and high-level officials. A sort of a business models, where you can have more than one vice presidents. Mr. Erdogan, may even appoint three VP’s.
The president will prepare the budget, have the power to declare state of emergency, and issue presidential decrees during the state of emergency. All these powers previously vested with the cabinet. Martial Law, and military courts, abolished!
The new rules also increased the number of members. Currently, 550 to 600, and lower the age of the members, currently, 25 to 18. Parliamentary elections will be held on the same day as presidential election, and every four years, from current five years.
In Malaysia, the winds of changes brought back an old political leader, Mr. Mahatir Mohammed, out of retirement and onto the center stage of leading one of the most populous Islamic nation in the world.
In strange twist of fate, he had come out of retirement to take out one of his own Portege, Najib Razak, and blow a crushing defeat to a party, he once led, Barisan Nasional coalition, which had been in power for more than sixty years, including twenty-two, 1981 - 2003 under Mr. Mahatir, when he stepped down.
Mr Mahathir told reporters: "We are not seeking revenge, we want to restore the rule of law" reported BBC.
Mr. Mahatir once mentored Mr. Najib Razak, who is now being accused of corruption, and benefitting from state own funds. None of the allegations have been proven. However, “two years ago he shocked everyone by saying he was so "embarrassed" by the corruption allegations that he was leaving his old party and would join the opposition, the Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope)” reported BBC.
Reflecting upon these two victories while awaiting some good news from Pakistan in few weeks, one must reflect at both elections results, and make comparisons, as well as draw parallels.
Since birth, Pakistan’s institutions have been struggling to keep military from intervening in political and democratic process. Much like Turkey, Pakistan Military is a powerful force who can’t be kept away from flirting with the idea of governing the nation. Half of Pakistan’s 70 years history has been under military rule, aka, Martial law. Much like Turkey, where Military courts have sentenced democratically elected leaders to death. Pakistan’s military rulers, General Zia, has had its own fair share of sentencing, although through civil courts. Nonetheless, a popular elected leader, and a world class politician, and statemen, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was sentenced to death during a military rule in Pakistan in late seventies.
Few years ago, Erdogan’s rule was challenged in what clearly seemed like a Made in Washington strategy in a failed military coup. Pakistan’s elected leaders also fear the worst, knowing that power can swiftly be taken away from them by a military general with a whip.
Nonetheless, by public, military in Pakistan is still seen as an institution that remains corruption free, and can be trusted not only with guarding its borders, but also running its internal affairs.
As a matter of fact, it is undoubtedly, the democratic forces, under the two leading parties, Pakistan People’s Party, under Zardari, and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) under Nawaz Sharif and his family that is seen as corrupt whom the public blames bankrupting the country and for pocketing the loot in offshore accounts and investments.
Despite the unwavering support military holds among the general masses in Pakistan. The people of Pakistan still feel that the best governance is a government, of the people, for the people, and by the people and they do so dearly hold this to their hearts, in their hopes and in their dreams that they may not ever get to experience such governance, but they do pray that their children will.
In this stormy world of politics, corruption, accusations, allegations, vote tampering, election rigging, gerrymandering, misinformation, fake news, external meddling, internal confusion, propaganda, counter propaganda, the average innocent naïve voters in Pakistan, many uneducated, and mostly educated are unanimous on one thing, that is, their last and only hope to deliver them an ideological governance – Like Mahatir and Erdogan – is none other than the only corruption free politician whom have dedicated his life for Pakistan and serving the people of Pakistan – Imran Khan!
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