Old guards vs young leaders

Public representation in Pakistan is in a state of evolution, and it seems it will continue to be so. The prime reason for fragile and indecisive civilian governments is the compromise on which they come into power. Pre-poll rigging, Election Day maneuvering and post-electoral shenanigans are a constant in our national life. To add more misery to public verdict is the arm-twisting from the powers-that-be and weak institutional decorum where everyone tries to encroach upon and interfere in other’s domain. This has been the trial and error of so-called democracy in Pakistan, coupled with inefficiency, ad hocism and corruption that our electables bring to our national life. A rupture and dis-balance in civil-military relations is the last of the ills in our system.

Former federal minister Muhammad Ali Durrani has come up with a novel idea. He believes that in order to bless stability and continuity to the ‘system’, heads of all political parties must abdicate their leadership and let the second tier take charge of affairs. This, he says, will ensure political reconciliation and pave the way for progress and uplift of the masses. His synopsis has come close on the heels of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s theory that ‘elders’ had failed democracy, apparently advising his father, the former president, too to quit the race for power. The point is: why are we busy contemplating a format in ex-parte without due consultation with the people?

If unity government is any criterion to usher prosperity and cohesiveness, Durrani needs to be reminded that, of late, the country experimented the PDM rule for 16 months after the ouster of the PTI government. The PDM government was a disaster, to say the least. The economy plummeted and social harmony is at its worst to this day. This means manufactured and tailor-made democracy cannot work. Let the people of Pakistan decide as to who they feel like trusting through a free, fair and transparent electoral process. Age and education don’t matter, it’s the wisdom and support of masses that makes the difference.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2023.

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