Democracy in Pakistan: Root causes of weak

democratization system in Pakistan

Dr Arshad Javed Rizvi

Associate Professor

Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology

Abstract
This research report highlights the historical background of democracy
since Athenian time, its journey from Aristotle to 20th and 21st era. In this
report, focus is paid on historical background of Pakistan. Issues of bad
democratic governance are highlighted. Causes behind and reasons of it
failures are focused.

Other aspects include the democratic and non-democratic dimension of

Pakistan. Whether it can be called truly democratic and finally, Conclude if
democracy in the best way forward for Pakistan.

Role of political parties is highlighted; democracy can succeed only if

politician’s leaders have strong commitment to democracy in both theory
and practice.

Key words: Democracy, Security, Political Decay, Weak States, Authoritarianism,

Oligarhical Elite, Patrimonialism, Ideology
Introduction:
“Democracy” is the form of system of government which was known as
“democratia”. It is a system of government which has the power to make
alterations in the laws and structures of government with the eligible
citizens. Ultimately, people themselves or by their elected representatives
to the parliament through free and fair elections under the rule of law make
the legislative decisions to run the affairs of the state or polity, sovereign
power resides within the people to make social state.

For the first time, the term democracy appeared in the political life of the
Greek city state of Athens by Cleisthenes during 508-507 BC. Since then,
Cleisthenes is considered to be “the father of Athenian democracy”. It was
a kind of direct democracy having two distinct features; one was random
selection of ordinary citizens to hold judicial and administrative offices of
the government. Second was legislative assembly where all eligible
Athenian citizens were allowed to speak, vote to set the laws of the city
state, but excluded non land owners, male less than 20 years, slaves,
foreigners and women. The exclusion of large part of population reflects on
the true ancient understanding of citizenship. The government system was
completely reformed and reorganized to change the basis of political
organization also introduced the equality of rights for all citizens to have
more power, Athenian democracy was introduced by Cleisthenes but later
expanded by Ephialtes and Pericles, they worked hard to preserve the
democratic principles of equality among the Athenian citizens as no one
was allowed to hold the administrative office more than one.

Due to the democratic influence in the Greek world, many philosophers

started developing their theories. Among these were Socrates, his pupil
Plato, further worked on more relations and positions of individuals in the
community. Aristotle, student of Plato by carrying his work further laid the
foundation of political philosophy. There were many Greek city states at
that time, had different systems of rule. Aristotle critically and systematically
analyzed them and categorized into three on the basis of how many ruled:
If many it is democracy/polity, if few it is oligarchy/Aristocracy, if single
person, it is tyranny, autocracy/monarchy. After two centuries of lifetime,
Athenian democracy had to face decline and criticism due to the crises of
Pelopponesian war and Spartas puppet regime of 30 tyrants.

Athenian democracy of Pericles started to review positively by political

thinkers in 1846 after the publication of “A history of Greece” by George
Grote. Athenian system was reexamined the kind of rule at that time for
empowering citizens in the community. In the middle age, many
governments use to hold elections and assemblies though whole
population was not involved, few examples are in South Indian kingdom,
Holy Roman Empire medieval Italian city states, Sakai In Japan, Volta-
Nigeric Socities.

In the human rights charter “Magna Carta” in 1215, the parliament of

England clearly laid down the rights and powers of kings and rights of
individuals against unlawful imprisonment with right to appeal and to
address the grievances of ordinary people. It restricted the rights of kings.
Monarchy still holds the power to call parliament.

In the modern era in England, power of the parliament was increased,

further liberties and freely debating rights to political representatives and
rules of elections were established and still in effect through “petition of
rights” 1628, Habeas Corpus Act 1679 and “Bill of Rights” 1689. Under the
“Acts of Union” Kingdom of England and Scotland were merged in 1707
and in the result “First parliament of Great Britain” was established,
figurehead monarch remained powerful. Elected parliament was only 3% of
the population representation.

Compilation of United States constitution in 1787 was the result of

“American Revolution”. It favored the elected government and granted civil
rights and liberties but nothing was done for women’s voting rights and
slavery. “Declaration of the rights of men and the citizens” was a result of
French Revolution 1789, it was short lived. Soon in 1792, national
convention was elected by all males. During the period, slavery could not
be eradicated in the social and economic life especially in South America.
Many organizations started movements for the equal rights, liberties and
freedom of Black people. During twentieth and twenty first centuries,
adoption of democratic system of government have been successful due to
first and second World War, decolonization, downfall of Ottoman Empire
and Ostro Hungarian Empires and religious and economic clashes gave
birth to new states in the world, most of them were democratic. In the result
of decolonization and on the basis of religious differences India, world’s
biggest democracy and Pakistan came into existence in the result of
rejecting two centuries old British rule in 1947.

By 1960, most of the world’s states were democratic system of

governance. Now out of 192 countries, 123 have electoral democracies
according to “World Forum on democracy”. “15th September” international
day of democracy” was declared in 2010 by United Nations.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM:
Democracy is considered to be back bock bone of the government system,
which is the essential constituent of economic, political and social
development of the state. It is impossible to run the government without
good governance equality of citizenship without any distinction on the basis
of religion, regional back ground and ethnicity are the principles of
democracy. A democracy demands promise which has not been fulfilled in
Pakistan, has been in question since its inception. Due to slow and positive
process of demarcation develop high vulnerability to wards none
democratize interventions gave the chance to no civilian forces to rule.

Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah choice democratic form of the

government in Pakistan to make it people friendly and welfare state but it
could not meet the level what a constitutional democratic countries
supposed to offer, sovereignty of parliament political life without
intervention, supremacy of constitution, rule of law and judiciary safe guard
of minority rights, fulfillment of basis need of citizens of Pakistan.

On the contrary what Pakistans democracy offered, in 1977, 1999, 2007

country’s constitution was suspended and abrogated in 1958 and 1969, its
political life since existence had been overtaken by military general, and
five elected political; government were to palled by the army.

Above all there is no system of measurement of democracy and

conceptualization in Pakistan.

Unfortunately all the elected democratic political government was belonged

to elite class or feudal back ground and the entire elected political practical.
Government could not deliver democratic government due to extremely
corrupt caused cased to weaken the democratic structure over the years,
that is where every time non democratic military forces had to take over the
rule of the state and country had to face the dictatorship, badly damaged
the smooth constructive process of democracy
Hypothesis:
“Democratic and non democratic force doesn’t allow true democracy to
flourish”.

Methodology:
This research will mainly be based on qualitative method. For this purpose,
different methods will be adopted. Descriptive methods will be used to
describe characteristics of Pakistani population, its social cultural
conditions to analyze the existing situation. This study will be based upon
interviews, surveys interrogation; secondly through exploratory method
effort will be made to understand the causes of the situation. Third, the
approach will be explanatory method to explain and analyze the research
problem.

History of Democracy in Pakistan

Pakistan since its inception has gone through many ups and downs and
experienced many problems, it look a long time to have written democratic
constitution of Pakistan, finally after nine years of its existence first
constitution was given to the citizens of Pakistan, but it was abrogated just
after two years due to military takeover, after that second and third
constitution were also given but every time suspended due to military
generals intervention to suspended the democratic process in the state of
Pakistan facing marshal law.

The military rule not only destroys the political institution within the country
but also annihilate the country’s image on world order. Zia-ul-haq regime
was a true reflection of an authoritarian rule. Its narrow based foreign policy
isolated the country from the rest of the democratic world.” “(Ejaz 1994)”

According to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Quaid-e-Azam, “Pakistan is made

for the betterment of the people living in it. People will themselves select
their Leader and it’s the responsibility of the Leader to fulfill the needs of
the people and work day and night for this Motherland.”

According to Z.A Bhutto, “People of Pakistan deserve better fortune when it

comes to Democracy. It is a great nation and Democracy is the best
system for this nation. Let the Democracy prevail and see the Nation
flourish in front of your eyes.”

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto explained the importance of Democracy for Pakistan

“The only solution for the problems of Pakistan is the sustainability of
Democracy. This will help reducing the monsters like Corruption, Poverty,
illiteracy and unemployment and Pakistan can get back to the track of
prosperity.”

According to Mian Nawaz Shareef, “We will make Pakistan a Welfare state
through our policies and hard work”.

Measurement of Democracy
Several freedom indices are used to measure democracy:

 Freedom in the World published each year since 1972 by the U.S.-
based Freedom House ranks countries by political rights and civil
liberties that are derived in large measure from the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. Countries are assessed as free, partly
free, or unfree.

 Worldwide Press Freedom Index is published each year since 2002

(except that 2011 was combined with 2012) by France-based Reporters
Without Borders. Countries are assessed as having a good situation,
a satisfactory situation, noticeable problems, a difficult situation, or
a very serious situation.
 Freedom of the Press published each year since 1980 by Freedom
House.
 The Index of Freedom in the World is an index measuring classical civil
liberties published by Canada's Fraser Institute, Germany's Liberales
Institute, and the U.S. Cato Institute. It is not currently included in the
table below.
 The CIRI Human Rights Data Project measures a range of human, civil,
women's and workers rights.[76]It is now hosted by the University of
Connecticut. It was created in 1994. In its 2011 report, the U.S. was
ranked 38th in overall human rights.
 The Democracy Index, published by the U.K.-based Economist
Intelligence Unit, is an assessment of countries' democracy. Countries
are rated to be either Full Democracies, Flawed Democracies, Hybrid
Regimes, or Authoritarian regimes. Full democracies, flawed
democracies, and hybrid regimes are considered to be democracies,
and the authoritarian nations are considered to be dictatorial. The index
is based on 60 indicators grouped in five different categories.
 The U.S.-based Polity data series is a widely used data series in
political science research. It contains coded annual information on
regime authority characteristics and transitions for all independent
states with greater than 500,000 total populations and covers the years
1800–2006. Polity's conclusions about a state's level of democracy are
based on an evaluation of that state's elections for competitiveness,
openness and level of participation. Data from this series is not currently
included in the table below. The Polity work is sponsored by the Political
Instability Task Force (PITF) which is funded by the U.S. Central
Intelligence Agency. However, the views expressed in the reports are
the authors' alone and do not represent the views of the US
Government.

THE REASONS FOR DEMOCRATIC DOWNSLIDE IN PAKISTAN:-

Partition: Colonial inheritances and institutional imbalances.

Pakistan come into existence in 1947 since then has been facing institution
imbalance due to people in the region had roots go back to births period. In
Pakistan administrative and political institution were strongly in flounce by
civil and military bureaucracies with the result weak political institution
could not hold regular elections based on universal standard. Turn on
democratic system was lacked among the masses; democracy could not
flourish to fulfill the desire and aspirations of the citizen.

After partition Muslim league had to pay full concentration on the

rehabilitation of immigrants. It was the league of elites had feudal back
ground thought Quaid-e-Azam declared Pakistan a democratic welfare
state. Muslim league was not well structured and politically deep rooted so
could not fulfill the post partition promises and could not counter influence
of army and bureaucracy and leadership was deprived of democratic
culture, believed in federalism.

M. A. Jinnah’s Speech

"You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your
mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You
may belong to any religion or caste or creed – that has nothing to do with
the business of the State."

“Minorities to whichever community they may belong, will be safeguarded.

Their religion of faith or belief will be secure. There will be no interference
of any kind with their freedom of worship. They will have their protection
with regard to their religion, faith, their life, and their culture. They will be, in
all respects, the equal citizens of Pakistan without any distinction of caste
or creed.” ~ M. A. JINNAH, July 14, 1947, at a press conference in New
Delhi.

INTERVENTION OF NONDEMOCRATIC FORCES:-

Gradually political and bureaucratic regimes became weaker due to non

efficient deliverance of political institution, created from for army into the
political Doman, First Martial Law in Lahore 1953, and Witnessed formal
involvement of army into the civilian matter to control the riots between
Ahmedis and Sunnies. Field marshal Ayoub Khan took over the charge of
chief marshal law administrator and ruled the country from 1958 to 1969
under so cold democracy. Rule of dictator destroyed the democratic norms
amount the massed and political growth in the country. In 1969 to 1971
General Yahaya Khan took over rule from 1971 to 1977 there was elected
political democratic government of people’s party, again it was murdered by
general Zia-l-Haq and kept on ruling for 10 years. In between again
collected parliamentary government of Nawaz Sharif which was took over
by the General Pervaiz Mushraf from 1999 to 2008. All military rule in
Pakistan imposed Martial Law suspended right of the citizens, censorship
on media, ban on political parties destroyed the particle institution,
suspensions of constitution 1973 means political growth of nation was
stopped, this is the reason democratic process and political institutions
could not nature to declare good governance.

Social Structure of Pakistan: Non Democratic

Democracy in internal phenomenon not external became It is for the people
and by democratic in nature mean political institutions are also strong and
democratic became both are expressions of each other Plant of democracy
cannot be fruitful until pass through along process of demonization and
conceptualization of democracy.

Pakistan is an area where feudalistic fares already deep rooted before

partition that is why feudal system in Pakistan could not be eradicated.
British rulers of that time and Muslim league used to claim champion of
democracy but internally they them self had feudalistic background and
approach to handle the democratic and political institutions. This is true that
under the canopy of democracy, feudalism has been promoted up till now.
Since its birth Pakistan has been at the mercy of either military generals or
feudal politicians, Indian congress leaders made sincere efforts to make
India world’s largest democratic polity, because congress wasn’t the party
of feudal they immediately abolished feudalism and adopted democratic
system where as Muslim league consolidated feudalism as it was the party
of feudal.

This system is the biggest obstruction in the process of democracy as it

demands peoples participations of rights for all citizens and peaceful
equally of rights for all social structure. Whereas feudalism is opposite of
democracy it demand dictatorship one man show rule, slurry, oppression
truly not long lasting system to govern the state.

Election process Manipulation:

Democracy “rule of the people” elect the representative through free and
fair election to the parliament to show their representative to take handle
care of the affairs of the state. If this major component of democracy is
manipulated then genuine representation of masses to the parliament will
not be possible by for all the elections in Pakistan except 1971 and 2006 to
some extent, were manipulated.

Manipulation is a crime, violation of election commission rules and voting

rights of citizens to choose then popular democratic government and
political victimization putting masses under pressures, state resources and
assets are wasted. If the elections are genuine and instrumental, elected
representative must have elevated the dignity of parliament.

Analysis of Democracy in Pakistan

Pakistan as a state has a democratic political system which is quiet

unseen. It has its own political history has been showing negatively in
democracy federation with the touch of democracy could have never been
able to make a real welfare state where citizens themselves feel satisfied
with the true governmental democratic public policies and its true
implementations to fulfill the needs, demands and basic rights, such a kind
of true democratic system people have been wishing to have but
unfortunately they could not see the ideal democracy in Pakistan.

There have been many reasons for the down slid of democracy in Pakistan;
the most important is western political interest in Pakistan. It has an
extremely important geographical position. American and their allies have
huge interests in this region that is why Pakistan has been having
individual-based democracy due to influence of their interest, They want
Pakistan stable, programming democratic state, They don’t want to shatter
their dream of globe dominance by allowing strong democratic and political
institutions in Pakistan secondly there are also many internal reasons, The
most important is the feudalistic background and mind of our political
leaders don’t allow to flourish democracy in Pakistan, Their corrupt and
monarchic attitude always create space for marshal law to inference and
take over the rule.
Conclusion
Reasons for failed democracy in Pakistan due to prevalence of feudalism
since its inception Most of the political party leaders are feudal 60 to 70% of
population spending their lives under their influence like slaves, naturally
they are bound to give vote in their favor in the elections, they try their level
best to maintain paradigm of autocracy under the guise of democracy.

To counter the challenges facing Pakistan democracy is the only solution to

the problems through democratic accountability we can end up eminence
of corruption in Pakistan, feudalistic forces will be challenged who have
been controlling so called democracy in Pakistan. Extremism and militancy
has been a great threat to Pakistan for the last 25 years, greatly damage
the lives of the people, their properties and democratic structure of
Pakistan and democracy promote dialogue and tolerance. Due to bad
governance of democratic system in Pakistan small provinces have been
neglected specially Baluchistan.

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