Pakistan People’s Party responds to FP article on Musharraf

The following letter is a response by the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) to FP's recent Web exclusive, "Why We'd Miss Musharraf," which was written by Sameer Lalwani of the New America Foundation. Sent via Amit Khetarpaul of Burson-Marsteller, which represents the PPP, the letter is from Senator Farhatullah Babar, spokesperson for party chair Benazir Bhutto:

Sameer Lalwani's article, "Why We'd Miss Musharraf" reflects a mindset that believes that the army Generals alone in Pakistan are patriotic and above every other institution of the state.

Since May 2006, there have been persistent public outcries demanding change in Pakistan proving that the people are no longer willing to live under dictatorship.

True that democracy has been weak in Pakistan, largely because it has never been allowed to flourish in the country. The answer lies not in dictatorship but in more democracy. Every democratically elected official has been overthrown by the military, not out of the army's sense of loyalty to the state, as Mr. Lalwani suggests, but because of the army's thirst for power. In fact, the dictatorship in Pakistan has used any and all mechanisms, including discrediting past government work, and manufacturing fallacious corruption charges against anyone who opposes them – be it Mrs. Bhutto or most recently, Chief Justice Chaudhry. It is no wonder that none of these charges have ever been proven.

Despite consistently overthrown by military regimes, democratic governments have seen marked successes in Pakistan. Under PPP leadership, for example, Pakistan became one of the ten emerging capital markets of the world: the World Health Organization praised government efforts in the field of health; and tens of thousands of primary and secondary schools were built; these are only some examples.

Compare that to the current situation where the author claims that regime has succeeded. Poverty has increased, with 60 percent of Pakistanis living on $2 or less per day; there is rampant government corruption (now at 67 percent, and according to Transparency International, higher than any previously elected government); and the drastic resurgence of political madrassas.

The military regime has destroyed the very fabric of society for its political survival. Which is why, the PPP has been advocating for a return to a democratic order through free, fair and impartial elections, where the people will decide who they elect into power. Election is not the end – but certainly a necessary first step toward democracy.

One thing I should make clear: Foreign Policy is editorially independent of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, our publisher. Opinions expressed in the print magazine, on this blog, or in Web-exclusive articles like that by Mr. Lalwani should not be interpreted as the opinions of anyone other than those of the bylined author.

UPDATE: Lalwani responds.