Democracy & feudalism

The prime minister has assured the people of tribal areas that a package of democracy is being worked out for them. We hope the government will quickly deliver on this promise. There is reason to believe that had an effort been made in previous years to extend democratic order to the areas constituting Fata we may not have seen the present crisis. The long isolation of these areas kept trapped in an archaic system of law and political control has been damaging.

In many ways, the rise of the Taliban in these parts is a demonstration of sentiment against feudalism and the rule by ‘maliks’ interested only in guarding their own self interests. Militancy represented a way to get back at oppressors. It is no coincidence that many who joined the Taliban outfits were poor; in some places the nature of the struggle was exhibited by the plunder of the homes of the rich who fled as conflict broke out or even the kidnapping of women linked to wealthy families.

The demand for more say in their own affairs has been coming in for many years. It has been ignored for far too long. It would be dangerous to continue to do so. It is essential that people be given the means to express their opinions and to become involved in decision making through peaceful means. If this does not happen there is a real risk of more violence in the future. As the government goes about the task of putting together a plan to draw tribal areas out of the dark ages, it is important the issue of development be considered as one that goes hand in hand with democracy. It is also important representatives from these areas be involved in the creation of a package which can free them from feudalism and offer the empowerment people desperately seek.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2010.