‘No democracy thrives in feudal society’
No democracy thrives in any tribal or feudal society. The seeds of democracy are found in a society that has industrialisation, human compassion, and human rights, said Dr Riaz Ahmed Shaikh, the Dean of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) Social Sciences and Education Karachi.
He said this at the sixth Benazir Bhutto memorial lecture on "The Challenges of Democracy in Pakistan" organised at the University of Karachi (KU) on Tuesday.
He mentioned that society in Pakistani is still divided on the basis of tribalism and feudalism. In such a scenario, democracy would always remain weak in the country.
Another speaker, renowned journalist, Nazir Laghari said that the separation of the then East Pakistan was not a political mistake but it was separated deliberately.
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The military dictatorship has always played with the constitutions of the country and surpassed the democratic governments for their gains, he said. Laghari informed the audience that the opposite of democracy is dictatorship and Pakistani democracy has always been under attack.
Meanwhile, KU Vice Chancellor, Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said that the middle class is not visible in Pakistani politics, while in America, Britain, India, as well as in western countries, the middle class is a part of politics and have the access to the assemblies.
The presence of the middle class in the assemblies is a sign of political stability.
"One of the reasons for the development of our neighbouring country India is the abolition of feudalism through agricultural reforms, while Pakistan still seems incapable of getting rid of feudalism," he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2024.