ISLAMABAD: Though our politicians are clamouring for early elections, no political party — except the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) — has ever held intra-party elections to choose their party leaders at the local, district, provincial and federal levels. The self-imposed chief of every party nominates individuals of his choice for local positions and their cronies endorse such nominations. Similarly, party tickets are not granted on merit but on the basis of wealth and loyalty to the party chiefs.
Moreover, with the exception of the PTI, no party has so far come out with a clear election manifesto. Politicians and heads of organs of state pledge to strengthen democracy but these seem to be without substance. Democracy has to be for the uplift of masses and not for the well-being of the few at the cost of many. Therefore, I feel economic reforms are more important than others because everything hinges on the economy. Without financial resources, the very existence of the state is in danger. An economically sound country can lay the foundation of a strong democracy and an independent foreign policy and can face other nations with dignity without leading a life of dependency.
No party appears to have prepared a well thought-out programme to generate resources and increase economic growth, without which all talks of free and fair elections, protecting democracy and independence of judiciary remain a distant dream. Hence, all politicians, heads of pillars of state, bureaucrats, industrialists, business tycoons, media wizards, intellectuals, etc. must join hands to evolve a long-term economic policy to steer the country out of the economic quagmire.
Raja Shafaatullah
Published in The Express Tribune, January 10th, 2013.
