Fostering democratic culture

From what one can gather of the general mood of the nation there is little excitement or interest for the forthcoming national elections. This state of indifference is understandable and is a sad reflection of the manipulative politics that has become the tradition of our country. So, what is needed to restore public confidence and instil interest in them so that they can make the right choices and contribute to strengthening democracy? It is not just the fidelity of elections but other major distortions in the power structure will have to be corrected. The Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir on the assumption of office categorically stated that he and top military leadership will stay away from politics. It is now for the political leaders not to lean on the army but draw their strength from the people. And to settle differences among various parties the parliament and other legal avenues should be relied upon.

30^th June, the International Day of Parliamentarians, was reminded to us by an editorial in Dawn. The day went completely unnoticed by our parliamentarians. When democracy is weak and democratic traditions have not been nurtured then commitment to democratic values is shallow.

The main reason for political parties to lean on state institutions is that they consider it an easier path to gain and retain political power. By taking this short and unconstitutional path they have been not only undermining democracy but distorting the entire power structure and shifting the focus away from people. It is not that they are unaware of these but for them narrow self- interest trump national priorities and people’s welfare.

The recent unfortunate developments associated with the desertion of the entire top leadership of PTI are another demonstration of the fragility and personality-oriented politics of the country. How representative the present PML -N led coalition is another question mark. Moreover, the hold of the Sharif family on the party betrays the absence of strong democratic practices and its feudal character. No doubt, the Sharifs have been in power largely due to the genuine following they command but needs to be authenticated through free and fair party elections and not considered a mere formality. This is equally applicable to other political parties where families have a stranglehold on power and little space is given for new aspirants. It is of course perfectly in order for several members of a family or clan to hold high positions in the party or in the government if they are dedicated politicians and earned a place by their contribution. Even in mature democracies like the US, the dominance at one time of the Kennedys, Clintons and Bush was there. Nearer to home, in Pakistan, the Bhuttos for three generations have been in politics and holding the highest positions and in India the Nehru dynasty continues to command an appreciable following. These were elected representatives and have a strong political base. It is an interesting phenomenon that families take to certain professions and earn respect and fame on merit as politicians, doctors, lawyers or bureaucrats.

In view of the multiple challenges the country is facing and the hardships a large segment of the population is undergoing it becomes critical that an environment be created where the people are given the choice to elect members of the national and provincial assemblies who have a good record of serving the interest of the people. The casual and perfunctory manner in which legislation and policy matters are dealt with by present members of the assemblies is discouraging. More recently the lack of interest shown in the budget and on serious security and foreign policy issues does not inspire confidence in their leadership. It would be more of an exception if a parliamentarian or some of them would come prepared to engage in thoughtful discussion and make a solid contribution. The unruly manner in which the parliamentarians conducted themselves in the recent session should be a matter of serious self-reflection. It exposes the party leadership’s lack of interest and commitment to major national problems and people’s welfare. All these failings stem from weak democratic institutions fostered by patronage politics and years of direct military rule or their indirect meddling in the political process. What we certainly need is a serious political debate on real issues confronting the country. It will be unfortunate if the major parties continue to engage in petty squabbling instead of addressing national issues and giving firm policy directions. How long can the people of Pakistan remain deprived of good leadership and workable solutions to people’s problems. It is imperative that parliamentarians discuss short and long-term specific workable plans to enhance economic growth and address unemployment and security issues in the parliament.

The struggle against terrorism is another major challenge that the democratic government and democracy faces, especially in Baluchistan and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The present and the future government will have to demonstrate its ability to cope with terrorism effectively. Of course, it will have to rely on and work closely with the military, but past experience shows that civilian governments rely largely on it.

The hold of privileged dynasties on major political parties is another major factor in stifling normal democratic evolution. If the parliamentarians take a serious interest in national and people’s issues and come up with workable solutions it will enhance their reputation and gain broad public support.

The role of the press and electronic media in introducing a serious discussion on major economic, political, and foreign policy issues does strengthen democratic culture. It acts as another forum for accountability of government policies and the private sector by engaging in serious discussions on national issues.

In Pakistan, experience has shown that the effort to promote correct democratic practices and good governance is not easy. It faces strong resistance and is marked by tensions. But these have to be overcome through better political management and an understanding by the political elite that governance is central to the welfare of our people and future of the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2023.

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