by B. R. GOWANI
Wikipedia says there are many types of democracy
then there are democracies which are not listed, such as India etc.
India’s is “Hindu democracy” — Modi’s program of Hinduizing India
capitalist democracy (United States), run by the capitalist & corporate class
whatever degree of democracy countries have is on the decline
true democracy is hard to find beause it is nothing less than socialism
Cuba tried to take care of its people but the US strangled it thru sanctions
then there is Pakistan, which has what one could call “military democracy”
since mid 1950s, the military has ruled Pakistan directly or indirectly
out of 22, not even one prime minister was allowed to finish a 5 year term
only three premiers could complete four of the five years
in 2018, the military support helped Imran Khan get elected/installed as PM
Prime Minister Khan’s independent streak the military just couldn’t accept
the US, one of the trinity controlling Pakistan, was mad too at Khan
Khan visited Russia in February 2022 which the US didn’t like
US State Dep official Donald Lu* was blunt in ordereing Khan’s ouster
“I think if the no-confidence vote against the Prime Minister [Imran Khan] succeeds, all will be forgiven in Washington because the Russia visit is being looked at as a decision by the Prime Minister.”
*(Asst Sec of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs)
once the military proclaimed neutrality, Khan’s fate was sealed
Khan was quick to retort, “only animals stay neutral”
Khan was out, a coalition (some of them ex victims of the army) were in
PTI leaders were arrested, released by the courts, rearrested, …
many quit Khan’s PTI; many joined other parties or formed a new party
Khan has been thrown behind the bars for “corrupt practices“
other premiers in Pakistan have faced similar charges in the past
three year prison sentence and 100,000 Rs fine
on August 9, 2023, President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly
Alvi was following order of Premier Shehbaz Sharif who then resigned
the caretaker government will manage the country till the next election
elections are, as a rule, held within 90 days
rules are made to be broken — so it will be broken
there are speculations that election won’t be held on time
whoever comes to power won’t be Imran Khan — he’s disqualified
but for sure it will be an army’s man who’ll stay in power till he disobeys
(no party has woman as a central figure and so can’t be prime minister)
B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com