Analysing divergent developments with regard to democratic freedom in Pakistan and Egypt, an American newspaper has described the leaked Abbottabad Commission report as an encouraging example of democratic self-examination.
“To Pakistan’s credit, the 336-page report reflects the kind of humble self-examination that any democracy needs to prevent abuse or neglect by those in power,” The Christian Science Monitor (CSM) said of the report, which looked into Osama bin Laden’s hiding and the May 2011 US raid that took out the al Qaeda chief in his Abbottabad hideout.
The paper noted that the commission was led by a Supreme Court judge and its findings were based on 52 hearings and interviews with more than 200 people, including top intelligence officials.
“This is the sort of root-and-branch probe that shows a seriousness of oversight,” the newspaper says of the findings, which apportion blame across the board, including the civilian government, the military and intelligence services for the debacle and urges civilian control over security organisations.
“This is bold criticism for a country that only recently emerged from being ruled by the military,” says the paper.
Both Egypt and Pakistan, two of the largest Muslim countries, have struggled to show that Islam and democracy can be compatible. In recent days, however, each has gone down a very different path toward that worthy goal, the paper’s View, ‘How Pakistan prevails over Egypt in democracy’, notes.
“In Egypt, millions of protesters took to the streets last week to demand the ouster of an elected Islamist president. On July 3, the military complied. That was hardly the best way for a young democracy to self-correct.
“In contrast, Pakistan not only saw its first peaceful handover of an elected civilian government last month, but on Monday, an official report was leaked that strongly criticizes all levels of government – especially the military – for failing to search for Osama bin Laden, even though the al Qaeda leader had been living in Pakistan for nearly a decade.”
The report didn’t go so far as to name names of those who contributed to the “culpable negligence and incompetence”.
“It is obvious who they are,” it stated, adding that it may be politically unrealistic to suggest punishments. “But as honourable men, they ought to do the honourable thing,” it offered, “including submitting a formal apology to the nation for their dereliction of duty.”
“While the report is not perfect – it was leaked, not officially released – it should be held up as an example of how a constitutional system can keep a check on the concentration of power, whether it be the military or a religious figure who claims special authority.
Every elected government needs regular lessons on accountability and humility, the editorial writers say.
The editorial view cites Senator John McCain in a speech last December as saying, “The great benefit of democracy is that it allows for self-correction.”
“It allows imperfect human beings to strive … to live up to the high standards of our own values, which are perfect and eternal.”
