Editorial
Gen. Moeen's reiterations
Restoration of democracy is the main goal
The Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed has dismissed, in unequivocal terms, all the speculations and rumours that he might become president as figment of the imagination. The statement, very much consistent with his apolitical position since the army-backed caretaker government took over in January this year, has reinforced his firm commitment to democratic values and assures us of his unflinching support to restoration of democracy in the country -- the number one issue on the national agenda. The army chief has only echoed the popular expectation that the existing political vacuum should be filled with a democratically elected government.
The army has been extending support to the caretaker government in its mission of holding a free, fair and credible election. Their success has also been noteworthy as preparation of a new voter list with ID card has already begun. This is a huge task which, when accomplished, will lend the much needed credibility and reliability to the electoral process.
The speculations and rumours regarding the political future of the country that have been rife for quite some time have a lot to do with the lack of openness in the political arena. So, the government should consider further relaxing of the ban on political activities. Even the much-talked about reform plan cannot possibly make much headway as long as the parties remain inactive. There is no doubt that the political parties will be the key players in the whole scheme of restoring democracy. So, the need is to bridge the gap between the government and the parties. Obviously, the drive against corruption must not be misconstrued as an attempt to undermine the political parties, and it is imperative that the parties also begin to realise the plain truth that they have to reform themselves in order to be assigned the charge of the statecraft, after the next general elections.
A commitment from the army chief that the process of reviving democracy is very much on, and there will be no place for any extra-constitutional moves, is reassuring. Our faith in the on-going process of reshaping our political future, through weeding out the corrupt elements and reforming the parties, is bolstered by the army chief's categorical denial of having anything other than helping the caretaker government restore democracy as his mission.
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