The New York Times

Tuesday, October 19, 1999

Pakistan's Military Temptation

In Pakistan, a corrupt and incompetent democratic government has been replaced by a military dictator who now pledges bold and necessary reforms. Gen. Pervez Musharraf's speech to the Pakistani people Sunday night was reassuringly statesmanlike. But one big omission was a schedule for restoring democratic rule.

General Musharraf's speech promised peace talks with India, restraint on nuclear weapons, a crackdown on corruption and a drive to collect taxes from the privileged elite. He also condemned Islamic extremism and promised to respect press freedom. He is already off to an encouraging start by withdrawing thousands of troops from the Indian border and giving the central bank a larger role in managing Pakistan's troubled finances.

But promises of reform have been made by previous governments without lasting results. A real cleanup would be a heroic accomplishment. But it would be drained of meaning if General Musharraf fails to re-establish democratic rule in a timely way. The Commonwealth was right yesterday to suspend Pakistan's membership until democracy is restored. Washington must also press for an electoral timetable.

The ousted Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, once appeared a champion of democracy. But his government, like that of his predecessor, Benazir Bhutto, acquired a reputation for corruption, with Pakistan's financial resources allegedly flowing into foreign bank accounts. Such failures do not justify the coup, but explain why few protested.

General Musharraf apparently seized power without any long-term plan for governing. His most pressing problem will be halting the alarming drain in government finances that has brought Pakistan close to international default. Real reform would require big reductions in military spending, something General Musharraf is unlikely to attempt. Yet failure to ease financial pressures would bring increased suffering to millions of poor Pakistanis.

General Musharraf should not make the mistake of Pakistan's last military dictator, Gen. Mohammad Zia ul-Haq, who prolonged his stay in power for 11 years and left his country's political and business mores more degraded than he found them. Instead he should set a realistic timetable for genuine elections and let an independent judiciary decide any corruption cases. The idea of a tough military man imposing neat solutions for complex problems is appealing to Pakistan's long-suffering people. It has never brought lasting progress.