Pakistan coalition passes 100-days in power

Updated July 7, 2008 11:33:00

Lead by Yousuf Raza Gilani, the Pakistan government coalition's first 100 days in power have been hampered by political instability, economic woes and threats to national security. [AFP]

July 6 marked 100 days since Pakistan's democratically elected government came to power.

But the road to democracy hasn't been an easy one for the Government, with a fragile coalition being hampered by political instability, economic woes and threats to national security.

The milestone came as thousands of Muslims protestors gathered outside the Red Mosque in Islamabad to mark one year since a siege by the military, provoking a wave of suicide attacks by militants that killed hundreds.

The anniversary ended in 11 dead, after a suicide bomb ripped through the crowd.

Disagreement between the Pakistan People's Party and the Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League faction over the fate of President Musharraf and the reinstatement of the Supreme Court judges sacked by the President has thrown the Coalition into disarray with Nawaz Sharif's party threatening to quit the Government.

Meanwhile militancy is on the rise in the border region with Afghanistan and the economy continues to slide downwards.

But Pakistan analyst, Dr Samina Yasmeen, from the University of Western Australia has told Radio Australia's Connect Asia program, for a developing democracy, 100 days isn't enough to establish stability.

"In terms of critical stability and national security, expecting the Pakistan government to show a very positive outcome would be to expect a lot.

"But, having said that, the government itself hasn't really been able to divest itself of all the problems that previous regimes had.

"At one level, Pakistan is suffering from serious economic problems.

"The rupee value has been constantly going down, food shortages have been a major issue for ordinary people, electricity has become a major issue.

"You would expect the leadership to show signs that they are as much part of this process as the ordinary citizens but it looks like the leadership doesn't necessarily do that," she said.

The Pakistan People's Party, lead by Asif Ali Zardari, is concerned the reinstatement of the Supreme Court judges could mean renewed investigations into corruption charges against Mr Zardari.

Leadership vacuum not the problem

Mr Zardari's wife, Benazir Bhutto, was assassinated in December last year while campaigning for February elections.

Like Pakistan Muslim League-N leader, Nawaz Sharif, she was a former prime minister.

Mr Sharif and Ms Bhutto's return from exile last year was seen as the return of two prominent leaders that could make changes.

Dr Yasmeen says, however, the current Government's economic, political and security woes, after 100 days in power, are not because of a lack of figurehead.

"All the regimes came to power with a lot of enthusiasm on the part of the people who elected them in the sense that they would make a difference and very soon it became obvious that they were not able to make a difference," Dr Yasmmen said.

"Benazir Bhutto made that mistake, and Nawaz Sharif made that mistake.

"I think in the case of (current prime minister) Yousuf Raza Gilani the problem is compounded because he has been brought in specifically by Asif Zardari on the expectation, I think, that he would not rock the boat," she said.

Dr Yasmeen says given the lack of power of both Prime Minister Gilani and President Musharraf, the military could step in.

"I would argue that given the way things have emerged at the moment, a President who is not really that strong anymore, and a Prime Minister who is not really that strong, the power goes back to the military, which has been the traditional balancer in Pakistan," she said.

You can find the full story at the Connect Asia website: http://radioaustralia.net.au/connectasia