Democracy would mean that the illiterate masses will elect Islamic fundamentalists to office. Nawaz Sharif did a lot of damage to liberal society in Pakistan which was recovering during the biref rule of Benazir Bhutto which followed Zia's dictatorship. I think people have tasted more freedom during Musharraf's so called dictatorial regime than during the rule of self-styled democrats. In fact Musharraf used his powers to ensure free media matured as well as was patronizing art and culture. Unfortunately - Musharraf seems to have become soft, running out of tricks and now the fundamentalist forces are slowly gaining ground. The Chief Justice he sacked was a corrupt man who promoted his son but he became a rallying ground for opposition forces. Its sort of strange - but the most secular and educated muslim countries have been ruled by secular dictators who kept mullahs out of sight - and these include Algeria , Iraq under Saddam , Turkey , Malaysia and Indonesia under Suharto. Musharraf can do well now to liberalise Pakistani civil society while keeping so called democratic forces under check.
