KARACHI:
Pakistan has had a history of dynastic politics with two families enjoying dominance and influence in the political arena. Recently, Pakistan witnessed a new spectacle in dynastic politics with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s son assuming power as the Chief Minister of Punjab. It is difficult to determine whether Hamza Shehbaz was equipped to perform the duties or not, but the dominance of one family in the political setup sets a poor precedent.
Political dynasticism coupled with rampant nepotism and corruption has disillusioned the masses from democracy. People no longer believe in merit and try to gain positions at public offices through bribery and connections. Importantly, most people today do not trust the electoral process and avoid casting votes during elections as they believe the outcome is predetermined.
Even though it is difficult to root out dynastic politics because many factors have allowed the system to thrive, the democratic system offers the public the opportunity to challenge the system and express their resistance. The public should take a more active role in the democratic process by holding their representatives accountable for their actions and questioning them on policies. Instead of simply turning away from the political process, people should cast their votes for those who best represent their interests.
Zainab Sania
Lakki Marwat
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2022.
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