The fate of democracy in Pakistan

The political culture of Pakistan is outdated and has serious consequences for the integrity, economic development and overall progress of the country. It in fact is playing with the destiny of the country. The most glaring face of it is the uninhibited promotion of relatives and friends by political leaders with placements in important political party hierarchical positions and government and public sector organisations. Even those, who on merit and experience may be considered deserving, are afforded opportunities at different levels —municipal, district, provincial — that others never had a chance to avail.

It is only natural that these ad hoc and unfair practices and precedents demoralise and affect the efficiency and integrity of the organisations, be it government or the public sector. It casts a dark shadow on the younger generation that feels efficiency and hard work is secondary and what really matters is how well one is connected. This has an adversarial impact all round.

When political parties become fiefdoms the entire concept of democracy is undermined. Lack of confidence of the broad masses in the political hierarchy due to their distorted orientation and lackluster performance encourages and facilitates the army leadership to fill the vacuum by their own involvement. This cycle of events has been the general pattern of our political history, distorting democracy and with it economic and strategic priorities. The damage goes beyond it, as local and foreign investment shies away and even normal trading is affected as predictability of events is uncertain. And consumers suspect that delivery commitments by the suppliers may not materialise.

Initially, Imran Khan and his team of senior PTI leaders’ claim of not fielding close relatives and friends in party and government positions and pursuing clean politics carried some weight. But not for too long. Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi could not resist the temptation of acquiring state land and purchase expensive items donated by visiting dignitaries at nominal prices.

There is a general perception that in developing countries, leaders surround themselves with close relatives so that their misdeeds remain hidden. But in today’s world under the glare of public eye this is not feasible. So, this line of argument in any case is redundant. The inherent weakness of corrupt practices continues despite what the government and private sector may profess. Looking back, in reality it never remained subdued apart from being pushed in the background as other priorities took over. Elimination of corruption will require a complete change of culture and strict adherence to the rule of law.

A weak economy and political uncertainty have set in a sense of despondency among the masses. This is also reflected in the political parties, institutions and certain segments of society, especially those hit hard by high inflation and dwindling job opportunities. The youth belonging to the middle class is impatiently looking for a change. A small percentage of youth goes abroad for higher studies or are able to get jobs in the Middle East or elsewhere. The great challenge for the government is how to channelise the youth in engaging in productive activities.

Another major weakness of the Pakistan society is the plight of women especially those living in rural areas. Educational and health facilities will have to be expanded to ensure that they can earn a respectable livelihood and actualise their full potential. Involving women in governance and positions of authority at every level, including the private sector, is necessary. The elevation of late Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto as prime minister did contribute to lifting the image of Pakistan and strengthening the voice of women. The PML-N choice of Maryam Nawaz as the Chief Minster augurs well. The inclusion of women in government and the private sector however needs to be increased. This has been a major weakness and is not getting the attention it deserves.

The government should engage in projects with the diaspora that are of mutual benefit. This will incentivise their involvement in the development of Pakistan. The government should facilitate their voting in elections and be more receptive to their demands and recommendations.

Balochistan and the tribal belt of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa especially North and South Waziristan continue to be targeted mostly by militant groups operating from Afghanistan. Recently there has been resurgence of attacks by TTP and other militant groups. The army has been defending the border resolutely. The government needs to give high priority to the economic development of the area to ameliorate the conditions of the people.

There are other major weaknesses that need to addressed. The elections at all levels — national, provincial or municipal — have to be conducted fairly. Otherwise, it erodes the confidence of people in the election process and the credibility of the leadership remains questionable. The manner in which the recent national and provincial elections were held, especially the exclusion of the PTI as a political party, has cast a shadow on the authenticity of the election process, and has failed to restore political stability and confidence of the public. Pakistan’s history is replete with elections being branded as manipulated, resulting in unrest and lack of confidence in the integrity and functioning of the state. It has seriously soiled the image of Pakistan that will have its consequences. It is in Pakistan’s vital interest to strengthen democratic institutions. Major powers normally refrain from passing any comments on the fidelity of elections or on the state of democracy, but contrived elections affect the credibility of the government.

The state has been unable to suppress the popularity of Imran Khan, and his party has retained its cohesion and integrity under difficult conditions. The leadership cannot ignore the reality that a contrived or manipulated political environment undermines state power and its potential. With serious doubts about the future, investment shies away. In such circumstances it is difficult to put the economy on the right course. Whereas there is a need for undertaking certain critical economic reforms. Pakistan’s leadership has to realise that the repercussions of a continuation of the status quo would likely lead to continued decline in security and economic conditions.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2024.

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