Democracy must prevail in Pakistan

Suddenly Pakistan's attempts to curb militancy seem to be the very least of its worries. With two years still left in a five year term, the Pakistan government is in crisis with its allies the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) pulling out support and aligning itself with the opposition. This is the second reversal within a fortnight with the Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) seeking a divorce from the coalition earlier.

The current government is 12 seats short of a majority of 172, thanks to a controversial increase in petrol prices and new taxes, and this does not augur well for the establishment.

Should Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani fail to secure a majority vote in parliament, from a possible no-confidence motion, then the country would be forced to go into early elections resulting in more economic instability — thanks to the financial strain on the exchequer — and the militants would have a field day sowing the seeds of destruction in a rudderless state.

A fractured government would send out a whiff of fresh optimism to all those who are operating — the Al Qaida and Taliban — chiefly to try and disintegrate Pakistan. Damage control measures need to be put into place instantly.

At the very least the country's various political bodies need to understand that even though they may be divided by issues the government must hold firm to confront the bigger challenges that lie ahead, of which finding a solution to Afghanistan is of paramount importance.

In the context of the current crisis the government could shelve a fresh US inspired offensive against the militants and focus instead on stabilising itself.

It is suspected that the army could play an important role in helping to resolve the current predicament, but Gilani needs all the help that he can get.

Democracy must prevail at all costs in Pakistan.