![a truly democratic future a truly democratic future](https://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/414965-FarahnazIspahaniNew-1343666531.jpg)
This is a great stride forward but much of what true democracy envisages has not yet unfolded.
A great deal of the blame for unfulfilled expectations of the masses has to be doled out to ‘the establishment’ — the rulers of Pakistan since its birth. An overbearing military that intervenes constantly in matters of state — be they domestic or relate to foreign policy — has constantly held the feet of our elected representatives to the fire though they have no constitutional right to the power they exert.
The second component of ‘the establishment’ is the permanent bureaucracy. They are contemptuous of both the voters and their elected representatives. Along with their permanent allies in the military, bureaucrats, too, are often corrupt but never held accountable. They are often the ones to provide grist for the rumour mills that churn constantly whenever an elected government is in office.
The judiciary often works in tandem with the bureaucracy to derail visionary schemes and conduct accountability exclusively of elected politicians. The sheer volume of political issues that have ended up at the judiciary’s doorstep in the current term of parliament is evidence of how the administration of justice has given way to a generation of headlines.
A third and much expanded factor among anti-politician forces is the major explosion of the media. The electronic media, as well as sections of the Urdu press, keeps its readers constantly abreast of any hint of mismanagement and corruption by the politicians but quickly sweeps away stories that involve it or the establishment. To perform as a government or even as an opposition in such an environment is never easy.
The politicians, especially the government and its allied parties, have an obligation to implement the vision they presented to the voters to secure election. The people have a right to ask what steps have been taken to prevent mob rule in Pakistan.
Equally valid are concerns about plans to stem the tide of extremism. Voters will almost certainly ask at the next election if elected representatives just turned a blind eye to daily sectarian, ethnic and political killings.
True democracy is not just about the right to vote and the sanctity of the ballot box.
The will of the people is supreme in a democratic order. But elections are just the first step towards democracy. A democratic nation aspires to and means far more. The freedom of its polity to be safe, express itself freely and ultimately to be equal as citizens notwithstanding religion, gender or ethnicity.
Without all the important building blocks in place to ensure individual freedoms, we will see more and more democracies of the kind that we witness as a result of the ‘Arab Spring’.
Tunisia and Egypt show us that if the vote alone is to be the barometer, then Islamists who do not accept pluralism at heart will ultimately triumph. The first steps some of these emerging democracies have taken are to take away rights from minority religious groups and women. The outcome of the process has neither been fair nor truly democratic. In some ways it represents a frightening turn.
Pakistan has a much older tradition and aspiration of democracy than the ‘Arab Spring’ nations. However, after 50 years of some small periods of democracy, can we say that we are more evolved than those nations? I think not.
We must focus on the individual’s right to happiness and safety to emerge as a proud nation. A democracy built only and solely on the ballot box will always remain shaky and vulnerable. We have to take back our national narrative from extremists and ensure all institutions adapt to putting the rights of every citizen before the protection of their powerful institutions.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 31st, 2012.
COMMENTS (31)
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I agree with the Thought & Opinion.. She has not Shared her Views as an Ex-Parliamentarian but as a Civilized Citizen of Uncivilized Territory ...
"We must focus on the individual’s right to happiness and safety to emerge as a proud nation" That is the only sentence in the whole article that makes sense. Are people happy and safe after four and half years of democratic govt? They did not reform even a single colonial governing system- the source of all corruptions. WE still have 1861 police system, 1860 penal code, 1935 India Act copied constitution, same local govt setup- division, district and tehsils.
@Parvez: However, Mirza should go easy on the charm . . . "a true political science scholar" ??? . . . but I guess that is very characteristic of him.
@Fayyaz and @Saqlain - guys do not fall for this trap that democracy should be given chance and continuous elections will improve the democratic set up. The problem is not democracy, the problem is system. Since 1988 there have been many elections, discounting elections held by 'dictator' Musharraf, tell me what has changed in terms of parliamentary members and governance? I am not favoring dictators, but look what has happened when a democratic set up was given 5 years to govern - worst economic, social, judicial record since inception of Pakistan. So, lets talk about changing the system, perhaps, change the electrol system so that these feudals and landlords will not win another election again - that will be the day the luck of Pakistan will change for good. The author for what she is worth is a symbol of continuity of feudalism and corruption in Pakistan.
@Mirza: The first comment was so uncharacteristic that you really had no need to debunk it.
Democracy has been given a chance for only a few years. On the other hand army dictatorships have been for decades without any interference. What is the excuse of all the wars, defeats, surrenders and humiliations during army dictatorships? How can a controlled by army democracy starts running before it can even walk? The difference between democracy and dictatorship is “we can change the Govt in democracy in 5 years, while there is no hope for a change in dictatorship”. Elections are a filtration process and a couple of consecutive elections would screen out the bad actors and the Govt can only improve. While from one dictator Ayub to the other Yehya the country broke and it was from bad to worse. One can blame PPP for everything but cowardice when it comes to taking a principled stand. The opponents of PPP cannot understand why do the poor masses elect PPP? They vote PPP into power because the PPP did not run away even after giving so many lives. It is about time that the elected govt stand up to the generals and fire them right away.
Keeping up democracy is the way to go. Democracy is dynamic that can steer Pakistan on way of progress and prosperity. Since last 65 years we have been playing havoc and made Pakistan a laboratory, where every day a new experiment is conducted, but no more now, we need only a strong democracy and nothing else. Corruption is always there and it is not unique to Pakistan alone. At least the electoral process gives people a chance to oust people from power. It is a process similar to sifting. It takes many years to mature. Pakistan’s military was propped up and strengthened by the cold war powers. Now the same powers are finding themselves in the opposite camp. In this scenario, Pakistan’s military does not have much muscle power to thrust its way through, like it did before. It managed to control the nation by pushing itself to the fore front of super power battles. Now that need is lost. Therefore Pakistan’s democracy has the best chance to grow and thrive. Mullahs and their political attempts have never succeeded in Pakistan. The voters have always rejected their overtures. Just keep at it. It will help the military go back to the barracks and submit to the civilian authority. And it will help come out of the unnecessary paranoia about neighbors.
There is no excuse for sheer lack of vision. We supported you for 5 years, if you can't deliver because you're incompetent, you need to play fair and call elections on time. It's time to go.
Oh yes, ONLY the establishment is the bane of all the problems, the democratic forces have been fighting against them 'with them' for last 65 years. Come on, who was the first democratic leader who made the deal that G I Khan will remain the President even after elections? Who agreed for NRO and come back to Pakistan even when the dictator named Pervez Musharraf was at helm. The politicians make deal with establishment and then blame them. If the political leaders have any principles they should not bow down to the establishment and fight the case at the ballot box. That will be democracy. In Pakistan the politicians, army and establishment all have roots in feudalism in hence the circus goes on and the author is an integral part of this circus and should be seen in that light.
"Tunisia and Egypt show us that if the vote alone is to be the barometer, then Islamists who do not accept pluralism at heart will ultimately triumph."
"A democracy built only and solely on the ballot box will always remain shaky and vulnerable."
Wow! Lady your leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto mixed Islam with his Socialism to come up with an extremely abnormal system for Pakistan. Why don't you do a little research on Bhutto's Islamic Socialism and how it brought religion to the center stage of Pakistani politics.
In spite of your parties attempted socialism in Pakistan the legacy of PPP is feudalism and this actually gives the perspective to your statements. You think that democracy is when there is PPP on the "throne".
We don't want democracy. We can't afford to keep paying for the ministers' perks and benefits.
Well articulated! The author doesn't favor the politicians but focusing on the democratic system. All the countries have all the institutions mentioned in the Op Ed but the difference is the balance of power. I agree on the bad performance of the politicians but democracy inherently has the mechanism to throw the worst out of the system.
Democracy in Pakistan has been at a rather nascent stage considering the political and constitutional developments in that Islamic Republic wherein democracy has been more of a seasonal shower. The long spells of Marshal Law have retarded the growth of democracy in its true spirit to develop in the polity and society of Pakistan. The concept of democracy as a government of the people, by the people and for the people has really not been able to take the desired shape in The Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Although as rightly stated by Farahnaz Ispahani, that Pakistan does have a much older tradition of democracy when compared to the other Islamic nations; that have recently faced the Arab Springs; the desired liberal and moderate approach as had been dreamt by the creators of Pakistan is probably missing. Mohemmad Ali Jinnah although opposed to the idea of a United India had been the major force behind the creation of Pakistan his concept of this Islamic state had been that of a Liberal and Moderate but Islamic Pakistan. Unfortunately, with the coup of 1977 and the coming of General Zia-ul-Haq to power and their rule for the next eleven years bred a religious fundamentalism within the society of Pakistan and legitimised the role of the clergy in that Islamic state. The common man in Pakistan has never really accepted the system nor religious fundamentalism but has been forced to adopt the same. In order to shift to a truly democratic future will be a challenging task for Pakistan as a nation and society. The nation that will include the people and the government will have take stern measures to fight religious extremism, corruption, ethnic and sectarian violence and above all poverty. In addition as rightly said by the writer Farahnaz Ispahani, that true democracy shall come only when the people's will is held supreme and not simply focussing on the ballot box. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan indeed, has the potential to convert from a sectarian society to a more liberal and democratic society for which however efforts have to be made with sincerity by the people and the government for then alone can this nation play an important role in Asia.
It is not for nothing that we still have feudalism, tribalism, spiritualism and urban extortions intact, which are instruments to keep the people calm — as calm as slaves. It is not for nothing that a strong army of six hundred thousand men and a bigger police force protects these instruments. Isn’t the civil-military bureaucracy a beneficiary of this exploitative system?
Most of the people have no clue about REAL DEMOCRACY. Since its inception pakistan is tied to the US -block; the beacon house of democracy.
Ironically, there was never a democractic government in pakistan. Few people knows what are pre-requisites to democracy? Ruling pakistan and then running out of country leaving poor people alone is not democracy.
I won't agree with authur that media, judiciary, army and burecracy are barriers to democracy. Infact, The executive is appointing army chief, judges in the courts , controlling burecracy as well. Its a lame excuse that democarcy is failing because of them. Rather democracy is being represented by elite class who run away when they are not in power.
Those who understand the linkage between the Constitution and the security doctrine of a state should be quick to point out that the ‘ideological infrastructure’ laid down by the Supreme Law provides enough space for radical Islamists to lead the country to a particular direction. In its reaction ethnicity has surged, which though secular in orientation, is as dangerous for the integrity of the state as one can imagine — remember the Fall of Dhaka?
Religion and ethnicity are effective tools in the hands of the powers-that-be, other than bad governance and injustice, to break the will of the people to rise and question as to why they are being subjected to anarchy in the presence of a huge security structure (almost 1 million). Now, don’t try to find the sponsors of anarchy in the foreign lands. The ‘enemies of the people’ are just within.
The Taliban are not independent actors — as are ethnic militants like BLA. They are pawns, puppets and mercenaries. That they are ruthless, just speak of the interest they are meant to protect. Taliban fuel anarchy, as their ethnic counterparts do, that benefits profiteers, tax-evaders, drug barons, black-marketers and all those who believe they are born to rule the roost.
Is not it the best way to nab the patrons than fighting such a nasty and long war against terror and for the democracy? Pakistan is in dire need to ‘secularize’ nationalism to bring peace to its realm. Is it not a proper time to delete the word ‘minority’ from the constitution?
This is the agony of pakistan that it's makers(politicians) facing the wrath of those who opposed it's creation.People so short of memory.so short of commen sense!
The truth plane and simple
Political leadership were all competent and willing to transform this country ,but were thwarted at every step by establishment. Their corruption and misgovernance is all media created hype; What a twisted little argument,.Does not have any legs, can't even call this a lame excuse.
A great and balanced Op Ed by a true political science scholar. The elections are a sieving process and after a few elections things would change dramatically. In India things did not start changing till the 1990's or after several elections. We are second to none if we continue on the path that civilized world have been following for decades and centuries. The next govt would have a bigger mandate (coalition) and they would not be easy to dismiss by the establishment. Open trade and economic progress would outpace the so-called corruption. It has happened in India and China which are not free from corruption but the progress has outpaced the corruption. The comment above is obviously not written by me. It is an attempt to muddy the waters and create confusion and hatred.
A true democracy, needs to respect minorities, to do that it should be secular. There are religious democracies (i.e. democracy with a satate religion) but none of them are theocracies, where a religious foundations are used in law making or constitutional principles. Even the ones like Bangladesh have adopted secularism now.
So,to be a true democracy, Pakistan needs to stop being a theocracy. It should forget sharia, blasphemy laws and shoulgetting control over religiosity and religious extremism.
I am amazed how educated politicians make the people fool. They only believe that election process is democracy, forgetting the good governance, social equality and most importantly solve public's problems. She herself ran away during this democratic government and teaching us the democratic ways.
Madam, patting yourself on the back does not count.
Oh yeah...you forgot to mention people...they are also the anti-democratic force trying to derail your sincere governance attempts ;)
Democcracy will be only successful when politicians will take responsibility for their actions instead of blaming everybody and everything around them. Every democratic country has military,burearocracy and judiciary but elected people are qualified ,sincere and responsible people generally.Pakistanis could try to be honest for a change.
Well written.
please complete your 5 years so that we can get rid of you
Smug as a bug in rug . . . aren't you?