Genius of the people
Despite the fact that we had a good turnout in the 2013 general elections, there are many who argue against democracy
One cannot understand what is more tragic – the death of children of starvation and malnutrition in Thar or the lack of proper medical facilities in Sargodha.
While the media screams out the news with the death toll rising with each passing day, there is little that is done to address the issue other than hold an inquiry or call for the formation of yet another commission.
What is evident is the lack of concern on the part of our rulers – and in this case the leadership of two major parties of the country in addressing the problems of the people. Or possibly the will is there but they have become incapable of acting in a manner that ensures results.
General Musharraf in an interview earlier this week talked about how Western democracy does not suit Pakistan. These sentiments have been aired time and again. We should not forget similar statements echoed by General Ayub Khan who said it does not suit the genius of the people and then went on to introduce his own version of democracy.
This train of thought is not restricted to Pakistan only. All over the world we see dictators experimenting with one form of government or another. The basic premise, of course, being that they remain in power.
In Pakistan, despite the fact that we had a good turnout in the 2013 general elections, there are many who argue against democracy. And with the passage of each elected government, their conviction becomes stronger.
I remember that Maulana Tahirul Qadri had in his earlier dharna talked forcefully for boycotting the polls. This time round he has said that his party will participate in the forthcoming polls. So we do see a change of heart.
In what Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan have been saying over the past couple of months, there is of course an argument to be made. But the question is whether the changes can come before elections or after.
All over Pakistan there are many who argue that democracy is not the best form of government. But the alternatives they propose leave the mind puzzled. Some talk about a Khilafa, others want us to go back into a system headed by an Ameer-ul Mumineen.
And yet there are some who talk about having a benevolent dictator who will fix things right without the corruption that comes with democracy – of buying votes and bribing parliamentarians.
In a recent seminar held by the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, many of the speakers who talked about the case for devolution time and again made the point that it wasn’t actually democracy that was at fault but the people who tried to subvert it.
We were told of how bureaucrats and unelected officials aided by short-sighted politicians ensured that provinces were not given their due share – in terms of finances and also the powers that go with it.
Even today with the passage of the 18th Amendment, which devolves powers from the centre, the same people who supported the move are now subverting it. Possibly this is where the problem lies.
The centre is uncomfortable with giving power to the provinces and allowing them to take the decisions that they deem necessary to ensure effective governance. The provinces are not deemed capable enough to make decisions about education, health, transport and other basic issues.
This of course does not absolve the provincial governments of poor governance. While in some ways Shahbaz Sharif has shown how a proactive chief minister can work towards developing his province, the other CMs have actually proven the opposite.
Coming back to the system of governance, possibly democracy is the way to go – only because it is possibly the only system where people can be voted out of power if they don’t perform. And we have seen this happening in Pakistan – the KP province had little patience with those who do not deliver.
Given the number of dharnas we have seen and jalsas that have gone with them, the showing of both the PTI and the PAT in the coming elections – I am sure will be much better than what we saw the previous time round. Whether this will lead them to form a government only time will tell. But the whole exercise is possibly one of the transitions that Pakistani had to pass through. We are hopeful of better things ahead.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2014.
While the media screams out the news with the death toll rising with each passing day, there is little that is done to address the issue other than hold an inquiry or call for the formation of yet another commission.
What is evident is the lack of concern on the part of our rulers – and in this case the leadership of two major parties of the country in addressing the problems of the people. Or possibly the will is there but they have become incapable of acting in a manner that ensures results.
General Musharraf in an interview earlier this week talked about how Western democracy does not suit Pakistan. These sentiments have been aired time and again. We should not forget similar statements echoed by General Ayub Khan who said it does not suit the genius of the people and then went on to introduce his own version of democracy.
This train of thought is not restricted to Pakistan only. All over the world we see dictators experimenting with one form of government or another. The basic premise, of course, being that they remain in power.
In Pakistan, despite the fact that we had a good turnout in the 2013 general elections, there are many who argue against democracy. And with the passage of each elected government, their conviction becomes stronger.
I remember that Maulana Tahirul Qadri had in his earlier dharna talked forcefully for boycotting the polls. This time round he has said that his party will participate in the forthcoming polls. So we do see a change of heart.
In what Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan have been saying over the past couple of months, there is of course an argument to be made. But the question is whether the changes can come before elections or after.
All over Pakistan there are many who argue that democracy is not the best form of government. But the alternatives they propose leave the mind puzzled. Some talk about a Khilafa, others want us to go back into a system headed by an Ameer-ul Mumineen.
And yet there are some who talk about having a benevolent dictator who will fix things right without the corruption that comes with democracy – of buying votes and bribing parliamentarians.
In a recent seminar held by the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, many of the speakers who talked about the case for devolution time and again made the point that it wasn’t actually democracy that was at fault but the people who tried to subvert it.
We were told of how bureaucrats and unelected officials aided by short-sighted politicians ensured that provinces were not given their due share – in terms of finances and also the powers that go with it.
Even today with the passage of the 18th Amendment, which devolves powers from the centre, the same people who supported the move are now subverting it. Possibly this is where the problem lies.
The centre is uncomfortable with giving power to the provinces and allowing them to take the decisions that they deem necessary to ensure effective governance. The provinces are not deemed capable enough to make decisions about education, health, transport and other basic issues.
This of course does not absolve the provincial governments of poor governance. While in some ways Shahbaz Sharif has shown how a proactive chief minister can work towards developing his province, the other CMs have actually proven the opposite.
Coming back to the system of governance, possibly democracy is the way to go – only because it is possibly the only system where people can be voted out of power if they don’t perform. And we have seen this happening in Pakistan – the KP province had little patience with those who do not deliver.
Given the number of dharnas we have seen and jalsas that have gone with them, the showing of both the PTI and the PAT in the coming elections – I am sure will be much better than what we saw the previous time round. Whether this will lead them to form a government only time will tell. But the whole exercise is possibly one of the transitions that Pakistani had to pass through. We are hopeful of better things ahead.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2014.