With all its complexities, there is an exhibition of optimism in Pakistan if one looks at the emerging civil society, which the experts believe is taking the bumpy ride to democracy forward. The roles of media, judiciary (including lawyers) and NGOs has played a major role in shaping the civil society in the country in the past decade and will be crucial in the upcoming elections.
While the expansion and independence of media has been evident since Musharraf’s regime, the popular lawyers’ movement to oust Musharraf was unprecedented in Pakistan’s history. The recent episode of a brave young girl, Malala Yousafzai, 14, standing up against the Islamic fundamentalists is also a clear example of positive intentions of the Pakistan society. She was attacked in her school bus and had to be flown to England for a series of operations. She has now been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and the Pakistan media covered the story.
Statistically, till 2001, people of Pakistan had only PTV for news, but General Pervez Musharraf allowed the media to flourish and over 80 new television and radio channels were opened after that.
Moeed W. Yusuf, South Asian adviser at the US Institute of Peace, said, ‘Media is playing a major role in trying to push things to move elections further. They are the transmitter of messages and have emerged as a real force.’
Rana Banerji, a former diplomat, agrees with the vibrancy of civil society in Pakistan. He, however, is skeptical about a few factors. ‘Media has emerged and an independent judiciary has come up. However, there are nuances. While media certainly has evolved, judiciary has been a bit biased and anti-PPP. The lawyers did play an activist type of role in Musharraf’s ouster but boycotting to attend the funeral of Salman Taseer shows their radical sentiments.’ Besides, Banerji added that even the military is wary of radicalisation of society and they are taking steps like asking the recruits about the number of times they offer prayers in a day before the selection.
Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikar Chaudhury, is also an important factor as most analysts believe the behaviour of the judiciary may change once he goes.
Alok Bansal of Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) said, ‘The judiciary may be more proactive now although it might crumble under the Islamist threat later.’
Last but not the least, all eyes are glued to the conduction of elections by the reconstructed autonomous Election Commission of Pakistan ECP under Fakhruddin G Ebrahim who is believed to the right man for the job.
‘We have the most independent and strong election commission this time and the commissioner is universally accepted,’ Yusuf added.
While the expansion and independence of media has been evident since Musharraf’s regime, the popular lawyers’ movement to oust Musharraf was unprecedented in Pakistan’s history. The recent episode of a brave young girl, Malala Yousafzai, 14, standing up against the Islamic fundamentalists is also a clear example of positive intentions of the Pakistan society. She was attacked in her school bus and had to be flown to England for a series of operations. She has now been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and the Pakistan media covered the story.
Statistically, till 2001, people of Pakistan had only PTV for news, but General Pervez Musharraf allowed the media to flourish and over 80 new television and radio channels were opened after that.
Moeed W. Yusuf, South Asian adviser at the US Institute of Peace, said, ‘Media is playing a major role in trying to push things to move elections further. They are the transmitter of messages and have emerged as a real force.’
Rana Banerji, a former diplomat, agrees with the vibrancy of civil society in Pakistan. He, however, is skeptical about a few factors. ‘Media has emerged and an independent judiciary has come up. However, there are nuances. While media certainly has evolved, judiciary has been a bit biased and anti-PPP. The lawyers did play an activist type of role in Musharraf’s ouster but boycotting to attend the funeral of Salman Taseer shows their radical sentiments.’ Besides, Banerji added that even the military is wary of radicalisation of society and they are taking steps like asking the recruits about the number of times they offer prayers in a day before the selection.
Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikar Chaudhury, is also an important factor as most analysts believe the behaviour of the judiciary may change once he goes.
Alok Bansal of Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) said, ‘The judiciary may be more proactive now although it might crumble under the Islamist threat later.’
Last but not the least, all eyes are glued to the conduction of elections by the reconstructed autonomous Election Commission of Pakistan ECP under Fakhruddin G Ebrahim who is believed to the right man for the job.
‘We have the most independent and strong election commission this time and the commissioner is universally accepted,’ Yusuf added.