March 17th marked the completion of the full constitutional five-year term for the outgoing government in Pakistan. This is a benchmark that no elected government has ever achieved in the history of the country since it was founded in 1947. For that reason alone, it is a moment of pride for the nation, which has over the past six decades seen significant political turmoil — martial law, dismissal of elected governments by extra-constitutional powers exercised by the president and inter-institution clashes — leading to perpetual political uncertainty and instability.

It has not been smooth sailing for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government either, whether it was power wrangling with the security establishment in the initial days, clashes with the Supreme Court or the power tussle with the opposition-led provincial government in the Punjab province. Fortunately, it did not lead to a derailing of democracy.

Given the traditional chokehold on democracy in Pakistan, it is important to understand the influence of certain dynamics. First is the opposition that was usually conspiring with other powerful forces to disrupt full political term for the government in power.

Second is the establishment that broadly encompasses the military, the intelligence agencies, the judiciary and the bureaucracy. In lieu of these factors credit is due to the opposition that abstained from upsetting the last setup. Not only did it desist from mobilising street power and creating instability on a number of occasions, whether it was in the wake of violent protests against inflation, electricity outages, the mayhem in Karachi or Quetta or during the clash between the executive and the judiciary, it also supported the government on issues of national interest.

However, the biggest contributor towards political stability has been the military whose penchant for rolling in the tanks of its infamous 111 Brigade down the Constitution Avenue in Islamabad is etched deep in the collective conscience of the people. It is therefore no mean feat that Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani resisted that siren call, not once but on a number of occasions when all out calls for imposition of military rule were being made by certain quarters. Whether it was to dispel the stigma the military had acquired over the years or a genuine desire to allow democracy, however flawed, to take root and survive, General Kayani’s efforts to distance himself from involvement in the political affairs of the country will be documented in golden letters in the country’s parliamentary history.

It is a moment of triumph for the Pakistani people despite some serious shortcomings of the past government. The key to the future lies in their hands despite scepticism of how free and transparent the next election would be. While some rigging is de rigueur in certain countries, Pakistan being no exception, there is however a limit to which elections can be manipulated, as was witnessed in 2008.

The fact that new and resurgent forces are also now in the run is indicative of the maturity of the political scene. This has already created a healthy competitive environment. More importantly, many of them now realise that they will have to deliver once they are in power. While constituency politics continues to play a significant role, even the rural vote bank is now a different ball game.

Despite a vibrant political culture the people have not been able to fully grasp the power of the ballot. For many, the right to exercise their political will to bring about change is a reality that may have just begun to dawn. This realisation is key to shaping future political dynamics.

Given the volatile security situation in some parts of the country, the transition period till elections will be crucial. Moreover, it will be a testing period for many key players to not succumb to the temptation of delaying the polls or indulging in a Machiavellian power play. As an active political player and one who has been running the show for the past PPP regime, President Asif Ali Zardari will come under special scrutiny. The fact that key socio-economic issues were not addressed and were consistently blamed on former president Musharraf will not help. But five years is a long time. What remains is anger at the failure of the government to provide security, alleviate economic hardships, improve governance and deal with a severe energy shortage that in recent years reached a record low.

The next government faces huge challenges vis-à-vis impending security operations and reviving a struggling economy, but there is renewed hope in a new leadership.

Whoever said that democracy is perfect may have been suffering from a utopian vision, especially in a fragile environment such as Pakistan, but it is a healthy start. For even when leaders with more autocratic mindsets than dictators are elected, it is indicative of the initiation of a learning process. When given a chance to develop and mature there is no doubt that it will rid itself of the debris of self-serving individuals and start integrating those who are prepared to be held accountable to the people on their promise to deliver.