About sixty two percent Pakistanis are hopeful that democracy can solve the current problems faced by Pakistan, according to a recent poll conducted by Gallup Pakistan.
That should leave many of the remaining population scratching their heads and wondering why. After all even a simple analysis of the countrys chequered history reveals that its economy fared better under all the three military regimes than under the rule of democratically elected leaders.
Of the 63 years of existence so far, Field Marshal Ayub Khans rule is still vividly termed as the golden era of Pakistans economy. In Ayubs time, from 1958 to 1969, the economy witnessed spectacular growth of an average 6 percent, which came down to 4 percent in the 70s during the rule of politically elected Pakistan Peoples Party.
Then during General Zia-ul Haqs period the economy got back on track once again with GDP growth averaging a steady 6.6 percent. The post Zia era, saw the economy decay as Pakistan Muslim League and PPP played musical chair while average economic growth slid to 4 percent.
And the theme seems to be repeating yet again with political parties struggling to maintain output growth at the pace seen in the nine years of rule by General Pervez Musharraf.
One basic characteristic feature might be behind this trend: military leaders make a good of use their martial discipline resulting in consistent economic polices, whereas politically elected regimes keep juggling the leaders and thus varying policies and changing priorities that hurt businesses and consumers alike. Besides, since elected leaders are mostly busy in politicking and safeguarding their control they lose sight of the economy - a tendency that is relatively less intense in case of military leaders who rule with much less fear of being overthrown.
One essential point, however, shouldn be missed: two of the three of military regimes in Pakistan benefited hugely for helping United States - first in the Cold War under Zias regime and later in the post Cold War clamp down in the war against terror during Musharrafs rule.
Although, both these eras saw an enormous inflow of foreign investments, soft loans and other military/non-military aids, perhaps the notion that Pakistan plays a pawn for the U.S under military regimes is what keeps the vote in favor of democracy.
Yet, despite favouring democracy over authoritarianism, about 57 percent of Pakistanis polled believe that political parties have failed to create a stable political system, according to the same survey by Gallup Pakistan. The current state of domestic politics where politicians seem more focused on issues such as NRO, Charter of Democracy, and presidential powers than on the economy fraught with problems strengthen this view.
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