Tuesday’s bomb attacks in Lahore go to show that the democracy emerging anew in Pakistan is going to have a very hard time to give people a peaceful and secure life. In fact, it would be a much harder time than what the dictatorial regime of Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf faced, because dictatorial regimes have their own harsh way of dealing with violence  in terms of summary or manipulated trials, fake encounters to bump off suspects, third degree methods and military excesses. The democracy will have to deal with elements and forces indulging in violence in a democratic fashion that is, in accordance with laws, rules and procedures.

Terrorist and religious fanatic organisations in Pakistan are very dangerously armed, thanks to free supply of arms by the world powers for serving their own strategic interests and thanks also to the well-organised smuggling networks for supply of arms from anywhere to anywhere in the world. There is a good deal of money earned from illegal drug trade also going into purchase of arms. It is ironical that the Islamic religious fanatic and terrorist organisations do not find it morally wrong to use illicit means to acquire arms to fight for their sacred causes But then that is the reality, and Pakistan has to deal with this reality, in spite of the fact that Afghanistan is no longer under its clutch and many channels that were opened in that country have been closed for the flow of cash and arms for the terrorist and fanatical organisations operating in Pakistan.

On the other hand, we have the re-emerging democracy in Pakistan not finding its ground. Political disputes between the two major parties, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) seem to be lingering and could damage the united fronts image among the voters that have elected them with the hope that dictatorship will make an exit with the arrival in force of their representatives, no matter which political party banner. Positive perceptions among the Pakistani people are very important, because if people start losing their faith in the two parties and their leaders, democracy will have another round of trouble, which may mean some more years of an autocratic regime. Even if it does not mean an indefinite continuation of the Musharraf regime, some other dictator will emerge from the army and take over power, if the mood in the Pakistani public is one of despondency and disenchantment with political parties and political leaders.

Therefore, a great responsibility lies on the shoulders of the leaders of the PPP and PML-N, Mr Asif Zardari and Mr Nawaz Sharif, respectively, not to allow anything to happen that would create negative perceptions in the minds of the public. The fight over several issues between them has sent out a wrong message to their electors that the two parties would not be able to work together for a long time, and political instability may result, creating a vacuum and a free space for another long tenure of dictatorship. After all, dictatorships and military coups have been the fate of Pakistan.

But the country’s political history is also marked by misrule by political parties. The regimes of the late Benazir Bhutto and Mr Nawaz Sharif were known to be lacking in vision to take the country forward in terms of development. Although they won the trust of the electorate attacking dictatorial regimes, they themselves ran regimes that became infamous for political oppression, police excesses and corruption.

If the two major political parties do not end their bickering, old memories could be revived among the people of the evil-doings of their regimes, which could be very inviting not only for present and future dictators but also for the terrorist and fanatic organisations, like the one that blew up targets in Lahore on Tuesday.