Islamabad - Pakistanis voted against military dictatorship and for the restoration of democracy in February 18 elections, but many now doubt whether a real change has come with the removal of former president and army chief Pervez Musharraf.

Six months after the crushing defeat of his political allies in the parliamentary elections, Musharraf resigned on August 18, ending yet another period of military dictatorship in Pakistan, where army rule has spanned over half of its 61 years of existence.

Analysts say the swearing-in of Asif Ali Zardari - who led his wife and former premier Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party to victory after her assassination - as the new president has so far proved to be a democratic transition only in words, not in spirit.

"This is what we call a change of faces," said political analyst Ayesha Siddiqa. "Mr Zardari has not given up the dictatorial powers and controls over all state institutions Musharraf accumulated during his seven years of rule."

A real change could have taken place had the president reinstated former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, who was deposed by Musharraf. Chaudhry's reinstatement could lead to the independence of the judiciary, an essential element of real democracy, Siddiqa said.

The sacking of the independent-minded former top judge by Musharraf when the Supreme Court was set to decide against his presidential election in late 2007 generated a countrywide democratic movement, and was a major factor in the defeat of the political backers of the retired general in February.

Despite promises during the election campaign, Zardari did not restore Chaudhry, creating rifts in the coalition government set up in March. A major ally, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, withdrew his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) from the government.

Zardari's hesitation might have come out of fears that once reinstated, Chaudhry could revoke a controversial indemnity which cleared the president of all criminal charges for corruption during his late wife's two tenures as prime minister in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

But his failure to reinstate Chaudhry could cost his party much public support, as the former chief justice is a popular figure.

Zardari also did not fulfil his election pledge to surrender his presidential powers to dissolve the parliament through constitutional amendment, a move many say would ensure the supremacy of the legislature.

With Zardari's unwillingness to let go of the authority inherited from Musharraf, he is being dubbed a "civilian dictator".

"We have a prime minister and a huge team of ministers but they can hardly take any important decision on their own. For each and every step they have to look at Mr Zardari for approval. Parliament is ignored in the decision-making process," said Ahsan Iqbal, an MP from the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

"This government seems to be an extension of the Musharraf regime," he said.

Zardari's spokesman Farhatullah Babar rejected the claim.

"The difference is that Mr Zardari has been elected and Musharraf was not elected by a lawful assembly. His election was doubtful and even his eligibility to be a presidential candidate was doubtful and that is the difference," he said.

Calling for patience, Babar said the transition to democracy was a lengthy process and changes would become apparent when the process was completed.

It might be too late by then.

"The very steps (Zardari) has taken to consolidate power by manipulating the judiciary, by (failing) to restore the chief justice, has isolated him from the democratic forces in Pakistan," said prominent political scientist Rasool Bux Raees. (dpa)