Roundtable conference: Democratic process has improved, performance not says speakers

An assessment group present their findings since the last general elections.

ISLAMABAD:

Since the ninth general election in the country five years ago, the process of democracy has improved considerably but the performance has not.

This was the crux of a report titled “Assessment of quality of democracy in Pakistan” presented at a roundtable conference at Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) on Wednesday.

The report is a compilation of assessment by select group of people who used several indicators to measure the quality of democracy in the country. The group comprises professionals varying from advocates, ministers, and analysts.

PILDAT Joint Director Aasiya Riaz said, “We have tried seeing the process in both the Pakistani and the international framework developed by the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance.”

According to the group, while the democratic process has progressed and received a score of 44.2%, the performance of democracy received a low score of 20.9% only.

However, others on the panel such as PILDAT President Ahmed Bilal were quick to point out that the views of the group do not necessarily reflect the views of the public at large.

To this, Shahid Hamid, an advocate, part of the assessment group, said that a separate Gallup-PILDAT Public Opinion Survey was conducted to gauge public opinion on quality of democracy in the past five years. The public found that media, judiciary and provincial autonomy improved, while the parliament, respect for human rights, cabinet law, increased foreign encroachment on decision making and democratic control over military decreased.

“According to the public opinion, prospects of free and fair election reflected through independence of Election Commission of Pakistan have not improved,” he said.

He added that a large number of people recognise that Pakistan has made “significant strides” in electoral reforms and relatively freer and fairer elections are expected to take place in 2013. However, whether these elections will result in more effective governments in the centre and provinces is something that few people are convinced of.

Gallup Chairman Ijaz Shafi Gillani highlighted the major developments since the last general elections: “The 18th amendment, Supreme Court reiterates its supremacy, the presence of the parliament was felt and the media became more powerful.”

At the end of the day, however, the upcoming elections are a milestone in the country’s democratic process. Defence Minister Naveed Qamar said, “The beauty of democracy is that the people have the right to their opinion. This is the first time the government is completing its tenure, usually people have been able to elect but never been able to vote out.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2013.