However, the regime under President
General Pervez Musharraf has deviated from the traditional
path of establishment’s forging an alliance with
the clergy by pursuing a policy of ‘enlightened
moderation’ to marginalize extremist religious
forces and undo with the policy of ‘Islamization’
unleashed during the era of General Zia-ul-Haq. The
change in the establishment’s relationship with
extremist religious groups is due to several assassination
attempts which were made on the life of General Musharraf
and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz by such groups. It is
yet to be seen how the elements which were inducted
during Zia’s rule in the various pillars of establishment
will respond to Musharraf’s policy of ‘enlightened
moderation.’
Some of the questions, which this case study examines,
are as follows:-
| 1. |
Is there any
historical basis of nexus between military,
bureaucracy, clergy, corporate and feudal classes
against a democratic political process and if
yes then what are the reasons in this regard? |
| 2. |
Is there any linkage
between the modern elite and Islamic groups in
Pakistan? |
| 3. |
What are the interests
which are shared by military, bureaucracy, feudals,
clergy and corporate sector and how do the traditional
and modern classes overcome their contradictions
and why? |
| 4. |
How is President General
Pervez Musharraf’s policy of ‘enlightened
moderation’ viewed by those religious extremist
forces, which were once in close conformity with
the ruling establishment of Pakistan? |
| 5. |
Why have the democratic forces
not been able to effectively deal with
the coalition and nexus between the military,
bureaucracy, feudal, clergy and corporate sector
against the establishment of a viable political
process? |
The role of the United States in Pakistan’s
political landscape is also significant. Since the early
1950s, Washington has had close links with various political
parties, clergy groups, military, bureaucracy and the
corporate sector. The existing nexus between the Bush
administration and General Pervez Musharraf after September
11, 2001 has overlooked the erosion of democratic process.
The question about the ruling establishment, which now
claims to have a secular and modern approach, as compared
with its decades-old alliance with the clergy remains
to be seen.
Issues raised:
| • |
The alliance
between the military and the clergy has emerged
to keep democratic forces out of power. |
| • |
This is a mutually beneficial
relationship as the alliance provides legitimacy
to military rule which was justified during the
Zia regime as striving towards building an Islamic
order. The clergy on the other hand, has increased
its power base because of the patronage it has
received from the military regime. |
| • |
The modern elite wants to
ensure Pakistan’s economic progress but
not a true democratic order, peace with India
but not at the expense of forgoing Kashmir, and
development, investments and modernization but
not by marginalizing the role of the army in governance. |
| • |
It is due to the state patronage
of the clergy and their historical association
that the latter is unable to challenge the military
establishment. |
| • |
The traditional and modern
elites in Pakistan have similar goals: maintenance
of the status quo in the structure of governance,
strong central authority, and state-centric media
which allows only the ruling establishment and
its allies a voice. |
| • |
There are certain contradictions
present in the outlook of the clergy and the military-bureaucracy
in Pakistan that pose problems to their nexus
from time to time: while the modern elite is pro-West
and pro-America, the traditional elite is anti-West
and anti-America; while the modern elite supports
a moderate Islamic system with equal rights for
women, the clergy seeks to enforce Islam rigorously
in all spheres and to restrict the role of women
in society. |
| • |
The structural weaknesses
of the political parties in Pakistan prevent the
emergence of a viable democratic struggle against
military rule. |
| • |
The economic deprivation
of a majority of people in Pakistan creates an
environment that is conducive to the exploitation
of vulnerable sections of the population by extremist
groups. |
|
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