PPP Chairman Urged to Build Consensus on Charter of Democracy, Including PTI
The Charter of Democracy (CoD), a landmark agreement between former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, aimed to end decades of political rivalry and military interference in Pakistan's democratic process. After years of political "tug of war" from 1986 to 2006, both leaders finally reached a consensus. The turning point came after former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf barred them from contesting the 2002 elections—a decision supported by then-opposition leader Imran Khan, who later expressed regret after also being sidelined by Musharraf.
A key provision of the CoD is its stance on the relationship between political parties and the military. The document explicitly prohibits any party from soliciting military support to seize power or destabilize a democratic government. Both Bhutto and Sharif also agreed not to participate in or endorse military-sponsored regimes.
Fast forward to today, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is advocating for the establishment of a constitutional court as outlined in the CoD. His recent addresses to Bar Associations and other forums have sought support for this initiative, though questions remain about why key provisions of the CoD were not enforced during the tenures of PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in 2008 and 2013. Moreover, Clause 15, which allows the opposition leader to appoint the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, has yet to be implemented in Sindh, despite being enforced in the National Assembly.
The CoD also proposed a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, inspired by the South African model, which has not materialized in Pakistan. Similarly, the formation of a Federal Constitutional Court, as detailed in Clause 4 of the CoD, remains unaddressed. This clause suggests that the court should resolve constitutional issues with equal representation from each federating unit, with its judges being qualified in the same manner as those of the Supreme Court.
While some progress was made during the PPP government in 2008, particularly with the passage of the 18th Amendment, both PPP and PML-N have, at times, violated the CoD's core principles. The 2007 National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and the 2022 dislodging of the PTI government through a vote of no confidence—allegedly with the backing of General Qamar Javed Bajwa—are clear examples. These actions, involving military influence over political maneuvers, directly contravened the CoD’s prohibition against soliciting military support.
Another key aspect of the CoD was the agreement to abolish the National Security Council and empower the Defence Cabinet Committee, to be chaired by the Prime Minister. This committee would oversee intelligence reports and national security decisions, ensuring that the military remained under civilian control.
The CoD, drafted during a time of political exile for both Bhutto and Sharif, initially emerged from discussions in 2005, led by the late Rehman Malik, a close advisor to Benazir Bhutto. Their mutual realization that they had been manipulated by the establishment against each other brought them together. Though the CoD paved the way for reconciliation, General Musharraf's approach to Bhutto for a working relationship resulted in the NRO, a controversial move that allowed her to return to Pakistan, where she tragically lost her life in 2007.
The CoD remains a guiding document, offering solutions to ongoing political conflicts in Pakistan. However, the current push by Bilawal Bhutto to establish a constitutional court may only add to the political chaos. Instead of focusing solely on judicial reforms, the PPP Chairman should prioritize building a consensus with all political parties, including PTI, on the CoD's broader principles. This would help to strengthen democracy and defer contentious issues related to judicial and political activism for a later time.
In a time of political turbulence, uniting all parties under the principles of the CoD could provide a much-needed path forward for Pakistan's democratic future.
