Turkey, which used to inspire most developing nations but particularly Pakistan, seems oblivious to the notion of separation of the judiciary and the executive. The prosecutors which acted against allegedly corrupt elite in Turkey on the basis of police probe would have been heroes in Pakistan; their pictures installed on billboards and names recited in poetry.

Had it been Pakistani police acting with such professionalism and integrity, this nation would have felt so rich and powerful. Unlike Pakistan where ISI is questioned by courts and media so often, Turkey protects its chief from appearing before the judiciary, making them above the law. The world is in awe and shock to see the same judiciary which set precedent by issuing sentence to Ergenekon and Bayloz architects being ridiculed for uncovering suspicious financial activities of top leaders of Justice and Development Party (AKP).

For any developing country, separation of judiciary from the executive is a mammoth feat, which is seemingly reversible nowhere in the world except Erdogan’s Turkey. Pakistan, Turkey’s twin brother, could sustain and ward off pressure from its dominant military due to the independent and powerful judges, and the constitutional power they were exercising. Despite global condemnation and domestic outrage, if Erdogan goes ahead with his rash decisions of subordinating the judiciary to the justice ministry (read the AKP), the next coup leader won’t need much homework. Like Pakistan’s bloodless coup by Musharraf on October 12, 1999, a toothless judiciary will immediately stamp the unconstitutional act of the adventurist.

By winning the referendum of 2010, the AKP accepted the responsibility to replace the existing constitution with a new one promising independence to judiciary while making the armed forces subordinate to the political forces. For near or afar, everyone sees the reverse happening. The doors similar to which are shut forever for military coups in Pakistan by its military by valiant the Supreme Council are being weakened by Erdogan’s Justice and Development party in Turkey. In the process, the AKP government may cover-up some of the many graft investigations but the international community won’t lend her little credibility.

While the developing world is plagued with corrupt and incompetent police, Turkey has significantly more professional law-enforcing arm. Erdogan’s ego is depriving the people of justice or relief almost next doors.

The most recent curbs on the electronic media hint that the worst is yet to come. Pervez Musharraf blacked out all television news channels after his November 3, 2007, coup while attempted to coerce the print media as well. In less than two years, the mighty general had to leave. Today, he is using a military hospital to avoid appearance in a top court for high treason charges.

Turkey deserves honest police officers, independent judges, free media and professional military officers. Above all, the ace of Muslim world merits politicians armed with wisdom and patience instead of revenge and frown. The world has already seen Erdogan’s fall from a leader to a self-preserving politician. An immediate parliamentary corrective action can save Turkey from a Erdogan-HSYK tussle or the men-on-the-horseback will intervene for an unprecedented but man-made disaster. For now, the prime minister has shown readiness to bargain on the issue with the parliament but the expanding web of graft allegations and investigations won’t halt just because politicians decide against it. The real challenge for Erdogan is to tame the judiciary against probing allegedly shadowy deals over his 12-year term in the office. With a month since arrests in the graft cases, Ankara has lost significant degree of its soft power while the sliding Lira hints at the bigger financials disasters likely to emerge.

While Musharraf faces humiliation for rash dictatorial rule, authoritarian face of the Erdoganism may not live longer either!

Naveed Ahmad is an investigative journalist and academic, focusing on security, diplomacy and governance. He reports from Syria, Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan for various international news sources and publications. 

Follow him on Twitter: @naveed360

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