KARACHI:
Pakistan remains entrenched in socio-economic challenges because of the absence of competent leadership that can steer the country out of the ongoing crises. Ordinary citizens only elect local representatives, it is the party chiefs who decide who will occupy which public office.
Once a party secures majority seats in the lower house, the party head selects the head of the government, and the elected representatives must vote for him according to Article 63-A of the Constitution. However, one person controlling the party is against the spirit of democracy. To make matters worse, the political parties are run like a dynasty with authority being transferred from the party’s boss to the next generation without any impartial judgement on merit. This has caused a crisis of competent leadership.
In the UK, which has the best form of democracy, ordinary citizens directly elect their leader. Once a party secures majority seats, the party members then select the head of the government in another round of polling. This encourages all party members to strive to occupy the top slot. If an elected leader fails to meet citizens’ expectations, there is always an option to select another one from the same or other political parties. This is how leaders evolve and lead a country to prosperity.
Asad Aziz
Khushab
Published in The Express Tribune, July 27th, 2022.
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