The single most important factor is the independence of the judiciary. Once we have established that we would have taken our first steps towards a lasting democracy. Until such time as the judiciary remians at the mercy of the governments, elected or military, there is no chance of democracy taking roots.
checks and balances are usually provided by a free media and through the courts, and the ultimate check and balance is of course the people's right to vote against a government that doesn't produce.
I think the media these days is pretty free in Pakistan at least in print, but I'm still not sure how much clout the courts carry, especially if the rulings can be ignored if they aren't to the liking of someone high up.
What's to stop the current govt from introducing the clause right now preventing convicted politicians from running for office?
100% agreed :k:
but who is the army accountable to if not the people of Pakistan? Uncle sam? 
Personally I had high hopes for Musharraf, but Pakistans problems are deeper then economic reforms and abandoning dangerous policies (Afghanistan), it’s a question of the rule of law, rights, decentralisation and institutions..what’s the point of all the positive reforms if there is no structure to defend them? How can you expect a democrat to observe the law when the people who took an oath to to uphold the consitiution don’t? Ironically almost 5 years after Musharraf a citizen of Pakistan was being stopped by the (not so) Sharifs from landing in Pakistan he does the same to his enemies? How does that make him different from Nawaz?