Beyond tokenism: can minority wings make a difference?
Over the years, there has been a heightened focus on democracy globally. The 2023 report by Freedom House, an organisation that assesses the condition of political rights and civil liberties around the world, reveals a significantly more democratic global landscape compared to 50 years ago. In 1973, only 44 out of 148 countries were free, while today, 84 out of 195 countries hold that status. The United Nations (UN) has become a leading force in promoting global democracy, surpassing other international organisations. The UN provides electoral assistance to about 60 countries annually, responding to requests or mandates from the Security Council or General Assembly. Additionally, the UN strives to enhance political capabilities by collaborating with voters, media, political parties, civil society, and parliamentary and judicial entities. In 2002, after years of endeavouring to create a human rights normative framework that advocates for a collective understanding of democratic principles and values, the Commission on Human Rights formally acknowledged a pluralistic system of political parties and organisations as a vital component of democracy.
Similarly, a vast amount of research has been conducted on party organisations in recent decades. Within every democratic system, political parties serve as representatives of diverse societal segments and regions, with their fundamental principles playing a pivotal role in the political advancement of the nation. While talking about the significance of membership and the impact of political parties, the researchers articulate that party members continue to wield significance in several aspects, influencing policy processes and electoral outcomes. Despite the uncertainty surrounding their impact, Stokes acknowledges political parties as an integral and unavoidable component of democracy. However, he cautions that whether they are the architects of modern democracy, as believed by some, or intrinsic challenges within its framework remains a question that social science research has yet to conclusively answer.
In its capacity as a multiparty democracy, Pakistan accommodates a diverse range of political parties actively engaged in the political arena. The foundational nature of the right to establish a political party is described in Article 17 of the Constitution of Pakistan. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has released a comprehensive roster featuring 175 officially registered political parties for the 2024 elections, illustrating the dynamic and varied political landscape within the nation. Nonetheless, there is a dearth of comprehensive data regarding the political agenda, policies, and organisational structures of these political parties in Pakistan.
The country has seen limited efforts in fostering the development of these political entities. The main political parties communicate their policies and expansion strategies through manifestos, aimed at broadening their membership base. These political parties create diverse wings, encompassing women, youth, minorities, and other segments, with the goal of promoting involvement and skill development among these groups. These wings operate in tandem with the primary party structure, enhancing voices and championing shared causes.
The establishment of minority wings is not a universally embraced practice. Different countries employ diverse approaches to address minority representation and rights in the political arena, taking into account their unique circumstances and historical backgrounds. In secular nations like the United States, the existence of religious minority wings may be less common. Political parties in these countries may prioritise broader issues of inclusivity without explicitly forming wings based on religious affiliations. On the contrary, in countries like Pakistan where religion plays a central role in politics, political parties implicitly or explicitly represent the interests of religious minority groups by establishing separate wings.
Nevertheless, minority wings have received significantly less attention when compared to other wings. Therefore, UNDP Pakistan has collaborated with political parties, government officials, and NGOs as part of its continuous efforts to enhance electoral processes and institutions for increased participation. UNDP's engagement with political parties has focused on areas such as women and the economically disadvantaged within the electoral process, as outlined in UNDP's Democratic Governance Group - Oslo Governance Centre.
Moreover, in contrast to countries like the US where candidates are chosen by party members and supporters, in Pakistan, top party leaders select candidates. This approach fosters obedience among party workers to the leadership for securing the chances of their candidacy rather than encouraging them to challenge decisions. Consequently, minority wings lack the capacity to enhance the representation of minority communities within political parties, resulting in a limited consideration of the diverse voices and perspectives of religious minorities in decision-making processes.
President of the Minority Wing of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and former MNA Ramesh Lal highlighted his party's commitment to recognising and tackling the challenges confronting minorities. He underscored the PPP's substantial initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of religious minorities, including the implementation of a five per cent job quota for minorities and the allocation of reserved seats for minorities in the senate.
The establishment of minority wings is often perceived by the public as mere tokenism unless it is accompanied by substantial efforts to address the broader issues faced by religious minorities. Tahir Naveed Chaudry, a former MPA, lamented that political parties tend to activate minority wings primarily during elections to secure votes but they neglect them in the decision-making processes. Hence, such initiatives may be seen as symbolic gestures with little meaningful impact. He pointed out that during the 18th Amendment process, the ruling PPP did not even include Shahbaz Bhatti, the sole federal minister from a minority community at that time, in any committee.
The frustration of excluding minorities from decision-making processes has led to a misguided focus on irrelevant debates such as separate electorate system versus joint electorates or increasing the number of minority seats in parliament. This is a diversion from strengthening their position within political parties and effectively addressing the needs of these communities. It diminishes the potential for building trust between political parties and the religious minorities.
Maryam Nawaz, serving as the Senior Vice President and Chief Organiser of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has spearheaded a significant restructuring of the party's minority wings. Under her leadership, a commendable communication system, led by ex-MPA Raheela Khadim Hussain, has been established to engage with 50,000 coordinators of minorities across all levels in Punjab. Ahmed Saeed Mohsin, the focal person for the PMLN secretariat, observed that this is the first time minorities have emerged from being relegated to the backbenches to assuming front-line roles, with direct access to the leadership. This transformation empowers minorities to actively champion legislation and initiatives aimed at addressing the rights and concerns of religious minorities, thereby contributing to a more inclusive political agenda.
Nonetheless, the main obstacle revolves around ascertaining whether this access will endure beyond the election period or if minority factions will institute a lasting mechanism for engaging in discussions with leadership after the conclusion of the electoral process. Strengthening the minority wings of political parties is vital for fostering inclusivity and celebrating diversity in the political arena. To achieve this goal, political parties need to implement tangible and proactive measures:
First, engage with minority leaders of these wings through advisory committees, task forces, and leverage social media for community involvement. Second, invest in training programs for minority party members, focusing on leadership development, campaign management, and public speaking skills. Simultaneously, institute mentorship programs to pair them with seasoned politicians.
Finally, champion the policies that address the distinctive concerns of minority communities, integrating a wide range of perspectives into the party's platform.
The implementation of these recommendations will empower political parties to strengthen their minority wings, fostering a more inclusive and representative political landscape reflective of the diversity in the population.
Rubina Feroze Bhatti is a leadership consultant and a visiting fellow at Stanford University. She is a former member of National Commission on the Rights of the Child. She tweets @RubinaFBhatti
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