For Pakistan, the army is a monolithic entity, all powerful and ubiquitous to our political life. The nation's collective memory is dominated by military rulers, whether hailed as benevolent dictators or held responsible for fragmenting society, who have shaped our history. Even when not directly in the driving seat, it is no secret that the armed forces have always called the shots.

Interestingly, it was Prime Minister Mohammad Ali Bogra who first invited a serving member of the armed forces to be part of a civilian dispensation. Bogra asked Ayub Khan to act as his defense minister. Later, of course, when Governor General Iskander Mirza dismissed the assemblies, Ayub Khan asserted himself to declare Pakistan's first martial law. Clearly, our politicians too have a lot to answer for.

From then onwards, while the faces may have changed, history has continued to repeat itself, starting from the coup in 1958 to the most recent one by President Musharraf in 1999. Moreover, each military ruler has given the country fresh legislation. Ayub Khan framed a new constitution, Yahya Khan abrogated it, General Zia introduced the Eighth Ammendment and the infamous Article 58(2)b. General Musharraf followed with the LFO and Seventeenth Amendment. Similarly, all these military rulers proclaimed themselves as president but were loathe to give up their uniform. At the same time, however, whenever questioned, the army chiefs have also recognized the desirability of returning to a democratic set up.

Unfortunately, our judiciary has never managed to mature in stature or assert its role independently. Instead, successive takeovers have been sanctioned by the courts. As for our national leaders, many of whom have honed their political skills under the army's patronage, they have remained divided amongst themselves, shown little commitment to democratic principles and are seen as ever ready to cut back door deals with the establishment. As a result of all this, the army as an institution has also suffered. When the defenders of the frontiers dabble in the murky waters of politics, their image too is tarnished.

Clearly, it has become imperative to come up with a solution that will ensure the smooth functioning of the democratic process, without the armed forces stepping in - allegations of corruption and economic ruin notwithstanding. With the elections coming up, we now stand at a crossroads. The current dispensation must seize this opportunity to conduct impartial polls and usher in meaningful change. To do all this, the government will have to reach some kind of consensus with all the major political forces that hold sway over our country. The stakes are high and history will judge them on this performance.