Accountability forum: The perks of democracy over dictatorship
Speakers highlight failure of dictatorial regimes for 35 years in the country.
Speakers maintained that frequent disruptions of the democratic process by dictators have harmed democracy. DESIGN: SUNARA NIZAMI
HARIPUR:
Dictatorship has failed to replace democratic governance and it is time for democracy, social accountability of elected leadership and strengthening of the local government system to name a few requisites.
This was the crux of an accountability forum conducted by Sahara Development Foundation on Friday. Former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Provincial President Pir Sabir Shah, the district leaders of different political parties and civil society representatives attended the forum.
Speakers maintained that frequent disruptions of the democratic process by dictators have harmed democracy. They further noted the output of dictatorial eras over the last 35 years proved detrimental to progress for the country. Furthermore, they accused political parties that supported dictatorships and nurtured the culture of political dynasties of creating obstacles for grassroots leadership.
They also criticised the sitting assemblies for scraping the district government system, saying that although introduced by a dictator, the system enabled women and marginalised communities to participate in development and decision making.
They said that MPAs and MNAs have — following the annulment of district government system — taken up the same old formula of street pavement, construction of drains and other infrastructural development when it was not their primary duty.
Legislators are not performing their duties up to par, and instead are focusing on unnecessary infrastructure development, said Omar Hayat, a speaker at the forum. He also accused the elected leaders of being involved in getting commissions from developmental schemes.
He supported the local bodies’ system, adding that it serves as a nursery for politicians and said the PML-N would strengthen the system, after coming into power. He added that the people have little option due to unavailability of true leaders in the political dispensation.
About accountability of the leadership, Shah said that since the right of governance lies with people, they should hold their leaders accountable, while adding that the institutions that were supposed to carry out accountability should hold elected officials answerable. He said that rights of women have always been a priority of his party as they constitute 60% of the electorate, while adding that his party would again introduce steps aimed at protection of rights of women.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2013.
Dictatorship has failed to replace democratic governance and it is time for democracy, social accountability of elected leadership and strengthening of the local government system to name a few requisites.
This was the crux of an accountability forum conducted by Sahara Development Foundation on Friday. Former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Provincial President Pir Sabir Shah, the district leaders of different political parties and civil society representatives attended the forum.
Speakers maintained that frequent disruptions of the democratic process by dictators have harmed democracy. They further noted the output of dictatorial eras over the last 35 years proved detrimental to progress for the country. Furthermore, they accused political parties that supported dictatorships and nurtured the culture of political dynasties of creating obstacles for grassroots leadership.
They also criticised the sitting assemblies for scraping the district government system, saying that although introduced by a dictator, the system enabled women and marginalised communities to participate in development and decision making.
They said that MPAs and MNAs have — following the annulment of district government system — taken up the same old formula of street pavement, construction of drains and other infrastructural development when it was not their primary duty.
Legislators are not performing their duties up to par, and instead are focusing on unnecessary infrastructure development, said Omar Hayat, a speaker at the forum. He also accused the elected leaders of being involved in getting commissions from developmental schemes.
He supported the local bodies’ system, adding that it serves as a nursery for politicians and said the PML-N would strengthen the system, after coming into power. He added that the people have little option due to unavailability of true leaders in the political dispensation.
About accountability of the leadership, Shah said that since the right of governance lies with people, they should hold their leaders accountable, while adding that the institutions that were supposed to carry out accountability should hold elected officials answerable. He said that rights of women have always been a priority of his party as they constitute 60% of the electorate, while adding that his party would again introduce steps aimed at protection of rights of women.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2013.