By Javed Nawaz
After the ouster of the Tunisian president who ruled for over 23 years, the fall of the Egyptian regime is highly significant. Mubarak’s autocratic rule spread over 30 years will be remembered in history as black days of humiliation, suppression, torture and killings. “This is the best day of my life,” said the world acclaimed Laureate Mohammed ElBaradei, who has an accomplished track record of professional honesty. “Clearly it is time for fundamental change not just cosmetic alteration” wrote Dr Ahmed Zewail in New York Times, a distinguished scientist who earned the Nobel Prize in 1999 for his exclusive research in Chemistry.
Egyptians rightly deserve congratulations for the perseverance shown during those 18 days when imposition of curfew, threats of police and coercion by armed cronies of the dictator could neither frighten them nor force them out of the Liberty (Tahrir) Square.
The discipline shown by over a million people needs to be appreciated. From a distance it is difficult to imagine how such a large number of men, women and children survived and managed for utilities, food and water.
It is highly commendable that such a large number of people without any effective leadership command and control remained united and were unanimous in their demand for freedom, independence and rule of law. The armed forces of Egypt deserve due credit for remaining neutral in the people’s struggle for democracy.
The resignation of Mubarak has been followed by two important announcements. First, the parliament which was generally considered corrupt has been dissolved by the army high command. Second, it has been announced that elections would be held within six months.
So far, everyone is happy and there is a sense of pride pervading among people on the outcome of their struggle. In 1969 there was popular uprising against Field Marshal Ayub Khan, the first military ruler of Pakistan. Prior to resigning he made several commitments including not to contest in the next election and invited the opposition for dialogues.
The nation soon got tired of protests and started looking for the outcome through negotiations. Unfortunately, he handed over the power to the next army chief instead of the speaker of the parliament, who should have been made the custodian of power during an interim period under the constitution. The army general, instead of bringing in reforms, abrogated the constitution and set in a fresh bout of martial law.
The fact should be kept in mind that Egypt was the first and only country to sign a peace treaty with Israel and that too against the aspirations of the common Arabs and the policies of the Arab League.
“The Camp David accord is over,” Dr Ayman Nour, leader of El Ghad Party who is planning to seek candidacy in the Egyptian presidential elections, told Egyptian radio. Dr Ayman is not the only leader asking for renegotiation of peace terms.
Israel, fully supported by the US, would make all possible manoeuvres so that the next government in Egypt does not get constitutional freedom to the extent that the existing peace accord is not abrogated. Israel would also spare no pains in ensuring that emergency rules, proclaimed in Egypt in 1967, are never rescinded.
It is an ironic that superpowers publicly profess the ideology of human rights, freedom, liberty and justice for all but would make all endeavours to keep illegitimate rulers and military dictators in power, especially in some countries.
They would look the other way when the legitimate rights of people are usurped by such rulers, the courts of law are made ineffective, national wealth is controlled by a few privileged elite and authority is misused in the name of national security. These despotic rulers in turn extend all cooperation to keep their nations weak, poor and far away from scientific research for socio-economic development.
While the role of the Egyptian Army has so far been highly commendable it is necessary to neutralise the influence of Israel and the United States who would tempt the military leadership and try to persuade them to extend its rule as long as possible.
History again reminds us that when Nawaz Sharif, then popularly elected prime minister of Pakistan, refused to toe the American policy on nuclear detonation and even declined an offer of $10 billion in aid, the US decided to replace him. Nawaz Sharif was unceremoniously removed from office, handcuffed, put in jail and later sentenced to life imprisonment.
The advocates of democracy and human rights shamelessly endorsed the proclamation of army rule and extended all military and financial aid to achieve a safe corridor to attack Afghanistan, a brotherly neighbour.
I am confident of the wisdom and perseverance of Egyptian youth, students, lawyers, scholars and the general people and hope that they will keep in mind the following road map to translate the freedom in real life:
• Immediate end of emergency proclaimed since 1981.
• Release of all political prisoners detained under fictitious allegations.
• Closure of all torture cells used by local as well foreign agencies.
• Announcement of specific dates for free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections under an independent Election Commission.
• To ensure impartial, free and fair elections, army high command should commit that members of the caretaker administration will not contest elections.
• Allow all political parties including Muslim Brotherhood to function without least inference.
• To end political coercion in all forms by intelligence agencies and secret services.
• To ensure rule of law, judiciary to be proclaimed absolutely independent of executive.
• Prosecution to be made an autonomous and independent body.
• Election Commission to be made independent comprising honest and upright people.
• To ensure economic freedom central bank be made autonomous.
• The state should not only declare but ensure independence of media.
We are sure that free and independent Egypt will emerge much stronger. It would play a greater role in the solution of the Palestinian issue in the best interest of the Palestinian people and in accordance to the popular aspirations.
Javed Nawaz is the chairman, Board of Directors, of Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development & Transparency (PILDAT) in Islamabad. The views expressed in the article are his own.
