DEMOCRACY

An intensive debate is raging in the country about revival of democracy. What is missing in
this debate is an in depth analysis to identify real reasons because of which democracy did
not work in Pakistan.
The first essential condition for growth of democracy in any country is acceptance by all the
sovereignty of the people. The sovereign people elect representatives from amongst
themselves to rule the country with power the ‘sovereign’ delegates to them for a time
period. The representatives are required to rule to the fullest satisfaction of people. The
people reserve the right to remove those who don’t come up to their expectations in the
next general elections no more no less. No one else has a right to dismiss elected delegates.

What makes democracy effective is the democratic political process whereby every political
party strictly abides by inner party democracy and party elections. The first requirement is
democracy at grass root level.
The other aspect is the people’s participation and their empowerment to directly handle
things in their day to day affairs. One of the biggest means is democracy working at lowest
administrative level being administered by elected representatives, not by bureaucracy.

Democracy did not take roots in Pakistan due to a number of reasons, the foremost being
that no effort was ever made to politically educate the people. As the very foundation of
democracy – political education of people remains weak due to mass illiteracy and
extremely low standard of education. Secondly, hardly any one of the national political
leaders is or ever was from among the common people. They were and still are elites – top
barristers, little holders, bureaucrats, landlords and now also crony capitalists. An other
reason is the absence of democratic political process. Basically, it is the result of non-
existence of democracy with in the political parties.

This is unfortunate but more unfortunate is failure of party leadership to acquire political
education themselves. The problem Pakistani society faces are many but some of them, the
most daunting ones are mass illiteracy division on provincial, linguistic and ethnic basis and
further sub-divisions into castes tribes and communities, religious sectarianism and
violence, suffocating grip of feudal culture with disdain for those doing manual work, respect
for parasites, worried business class, nouveau riche capitalists lacking enterprise and above
all feudal ownership of vast areas of land and the feudal treating peasants as slaves. There
are many more such problems our society faces.

But none has been known to political leadership and therefore, never highlighted in political
literature. And this is all inherited. The Muslims of India suffered from all this social sickness
but to the leaders then Hindus and British were the only problems. So these problems
remained unaddressed. Congress was more or less like Muslim League but inner party
democracy was slightly more practised in it than in League. Nevertheless, India does have a
developing and evolving democracy why? Because after independence constitution was
quickly formulated and national elections regularly held. That triggered a political process of
sorts which went on taking roots because national elections which follow democratic political
process and hold regular party elections. The result is that majority of members in national
and state legislature are working politicians, who come from middle and working classes
and even from lower castes. A substantial number of central and state ministers are from
lower castes or working class.
Had the constitution been quickly formulated and enforced in Pakistan and elections held
regularly after independence the political process would have taken roots here as in India.
That process was subverted first by Ghulam Muhammad by dissolving sovereign
constitutional assembly, then by Ayoub Khan seizing power by ousting legal government,
followed by Yahya Khan, Ziaul Haq, Ghulam Ishaque Khan, Farooque Leghari and General
Pervez Musharaf.

Now the assemblies have completed their tenure of five years first time in the history
of Pakistan. The democracy was been introduced at the grass root level. This is revival of
democracy to some extent but there is lot of work to do in this regard.

Democracy in Pakistan
DEMOCRACY IN PAKISTAN
OUTLINES
1. Introduction
2. What is democracy?
3. Nature of democracy.
4. Beginning of democracy
5. Democracy since creation
6. Causes of failure of democracy
7. Impacts of democracy
8. Measures for the survival of democracy
9. Conclusion
“The essence of democracy is its assurance that people should so respect himself and
should be so respected in his own personality that he should have opportunity equal to that
of every other human being to show what he was meant to become.”
Ana Garlin Spencer
Democracy is the most powerful foam of government. It is also regarded as the decisive
foam of government. It requires active participation of people in the decision making
process. Without public collaboration, democracy cannot flourish properly. It is the most
favorable foam of government as well.
The great personality of entire subcontinent Quaid-a-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was the
staunch supporter of public participation in formulating government. He was the promoter
of democracy in Pakistan.
According to Abraham Lincoln, “Democracy is the foam of government for the people, by
the people, and through the people”
Dr Hassan Askari rightly defines “democracy in the precise and appropriate manner.
According to him, It is a process which people initiates by conscious decision and sustain by
subscribing to its principle by theory and practices.”
Here the question arises, what is the nature of democracy? The nature of democracy is
evolutionary. It is not achieved at once. It is the long process. It needs strong collaboration.
The birth place of democracy was England. Sir Robert Walpole became Prime minister in
1722.Parliamentray democracy started in England first. Before industrial revolution,
concentration of wealth was under the control of feudal lords, which was disastrous for the
promotion of democracy. Feudalism was a threat for democracy. History clearly reflects that
feudal class was great threat for the establishment of democratic practice. After Industrial
revolution wealth was divided and distributed. Middle class came to forefront which
promoted ideal foam of democracy in different countries. Democracy first finds ground in
India after England. Jawaharlal Nehru Comprehended the entire scenario of feudalism. He
did not give chance to feudalism to hold ground. These initial efforts brought tremendous
change in India. It laid down the foundation of strong democracy. Active participation of
people has been viewed in India.
Pakistan as a sovereign state came into existence on 14 august 1947.The initial years of
Pakistan was encircled with multitudes of crises. Bundles of crises have not given smooth
path for the establishment of strong democracy. Since independence Pakistan has been
facing a lot of turbulences in the path of democracy. Utter failures have been viewed since
independence. It creates a sense of self deprivation among masses. Active participation of
people has not been viewed since independence.
The main causes of failure of democracy in Pakistan are summarized as follows:
Overdeveloped state structure, political instability, military intervention, massive corruption,
lack of accountability, weak infrastructure, feudal dispensation, institutional crises,
constitutional crises, strong bureaucracy, low level of political socialization, extremism,
weak civil society and absence of mature leadership.
Presence of these causes is always considered as a menace to democracy. Now let’s have a
cursory look on the elaboration of the following causes.
Overdeveloped state structure causes a great hurdle in the path of democracy. Pakistan has
been facing this challenge since independence. The monopolization and centralization of
power have creating a lot of problem for Pakistan. It creates hurdles in the way of smooth
democracy.
Political instability is the main threat to democratic process. It creates unnecessary barriers
in the process of democracy. Pakistan has been facing this menace since independence.
Because of this problem democracy is always facing difficulties.
Military intervention in the democratic path was regarded as a dead blow in the way of
democracy. In Pakistan, democracy faced four military intrusions, which was the menace for
democracy.
Massive corruption paved the way for military to intervene in the internal affairs of country.
After independence, massive corruption started to great extent. It gave path to military elite
to rule Pakistan.
Lack of accountability is known as threat for any institution. In the absence of accountability
no country can maintain its strong foothold. It causes a lot of trouble. Since inception,
Pakistan has been facing the challenge of lack of aacountability.this is main reason of
democratic downfall.
Weak infrastructure of Pakistan has been creating a lot of issues. Massive corruption make
infrastructure weak and futile. In the presence of corruption and absence of accountability
make infrastructure weak. Weakness of infrastructure is creating constraints in the path of
democracy.
Feudalism is threat to democracy. After emergence, feudal class had more power and
wealth. This class created barriers in the way of democracy.
Since independence, institutional crises have been viewed. Clash between judiciary and
executive class is a threat to democratic practice. Lack of consensus is making commotion.
A constitutional crisis is regarded as a definite threat to democratic procedure. After
independence Pakistan took long seven year in drafting constitution. Certain pitfall also
aroused in the path of drafting constitution.
After emergence Pakistan faced strong influence of bureaucracy. In the initial year of
establishment only two institutions were powerful to face the challenge of early
establishment. Quaideazam gave chance to military elite and bureaucrats to complete the
task of establishment. Soon after completing the task, they maintained strong control over
the state institution which created a lot of problem for Pakistan.
Low level of political socialization in Pakistan has been viewed since independence. For
democratic achievement political socialization is necessary.
Weak civil society is a menace for democracy. It creates a big gap in the establishment of
democracy. Both are dependable on each other.
Extremism has been spreading like ulcer in Pakistan. It has deep roots in the past history. It
creates a lot of hurdles in the development process. How can democracy flourish in the
presence of trouble makers?
Dynamic leadership is missing in Pakistan. After the death of Powerful leader Quaideazam
Pakistan has been facing democratic vacuum. No leader is like Father of nation.Quaideazam
proved to be marvelous. Since independence no leader has proved himself as mighty
Quaideazam.
Now let’s have a cursory look on the impacts of democracy. Democracy puts positive
impacts on individual life, social life, political life and economic life.
Democracy flourishes individual life to great extent. Public say has been promoted in the
presence of democracy. It provides massive opportunity in the development process.
Demands of people have been viewed. Opportunities have been given to people regarding
job.
Society blooms in the presence of democracy. Every department whether government or
private work in an organized manner.
Democracy puts positive impacts on political life. If political parties work with sincerity in
the establishment, and then it proves to be gain. Embezzlement of funds creates hurdles in
the path of democratic process. Political stability has been needed in the establishment of
democracy.
Democracy gives very smooth path to economic development. Both are interconnected.
Funds have been utilized in the socio economic development which paves the way for
successful establishment.
Now let’s have a look on the measure for the survival of democracy in Pakistan.
Uninterrupted democratic process, curtailment in the role of army, efficacious
accountability, breakage in power accumulation, judicial reformation, role of media, limited
international interference and political socialization.
UN interruption in democratic process should be enforced. This can play very effective role
in the establishment of democracy.
Since independence, army intrusion has been viewed which created hurdles in the path of
democracy. Massive intrusion in the democratic process should be controlled.
Corruption should be controlled. Proper system of accountability should be launched to
eliminate this illegal activity. Accountability is necessary for the proper working of
institutions.
Breakage in the power accumulation process has paved the way for democracy. Feudal class
has been engage in the accumulation of power. They are power lusty. This power must be
snatched from them for proper flow of democracy in Pakistan.
Judicial reforming is very important for the establishment of democratic practices. Judiciary
is very powerful branch of government. It needs reformation in its own spheres.
Media is known as the fourth pillar of state. It is now become more powerful than nuclear. It
is powerful way of expression. It gives boost to democracy.
Limitation in international interference is needed. Massive international interference is a
threat to Pakistan sovereignty. It is also a menace to democracy in Pakistan.
Political socialization is needed. Awareness and mass consciousness about politics has been
required for the strength of democracy. It is the most powerful way of promoting democracy
in our country. Political awareness in needed in every walk of life. Poor population is easily
cheated by shrewd politician. Awareness can only be promoted by media.
Thus it is clear that democracy is the most viable and effective foam of government. It gives
platform to general masses in the decision making process. It creates a bridge between
Government and people. Massive role of people has been welcomed in democracy. It
creates consciousness among masses.
In a nutshell, it is a very long way to achieve democracy in true foam in Pakistan. It
requires sincerity and efforts in the establishment. Democracy is not only foam of
government but it is a complete philosophy which covers all aspects of rights and freedom.
It needs public collaboration in true sense