Abraham Lincoln defined
democracy as ‘government of the people, by the people, for the people’. However,
he was candid when he said: ‘Elections belong to the people. It’s their
decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds,
then they will just have to sit on their blisters’.
True democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in
the people, and exercised directly by them or by their elected representatives.
Electoral democracy empowers voters to take away the powers of elected members
if they fall short of popular aspirations or grossly violate the fundamental
ideology of democracy.
Both PTI government and opposition are behaving immaturely.They proved
themselves incompetent.PM Imran Khan’s, some aides are seeming his enemies.
Undeniably, Sahiwal Fiasco added fuel to fire.Resignation of IG Punjab must have
been demanded by the government. CM Punjab Usman Buzdar regretfully has failed
to tackle the matter precisely but yet a Gallup survey found that 51 per cent
has a favourable opinion Of PM Khan’s overall performance which means that
people want to give his government some time to perform in a better way and
government must be successful in delivering its promises but for how much time
the blunders will be sustained?
Recently, the word about Police Reforms is again heard.Further more, the talk of
model police stations was reported but what would be the steps taken to improve
the incumbent police?
The often rampant uproar in the parliament cost masses approximately 10 crore
per session but all in vain due to impatient and childish behaviour of the
parliamentarians.
The biggest mistake of government and all it’s ministers is that they have not
yet told the actual dilapidated condition of the country to its masses which
will cost them very high.
It often seems that the cry for so called electoral reforms was not to empower
commoners but to make the electoral system more satisfying to oligarchs.
Nobody outside the political class or ruling elite had harboured this fancy
idea, as it was not meant to promote fair and accountable democracy. In fact, it
has nothing to do with the masses. The sudden interest in reforms was palpably
motivated solely by the rabid supporters of the oligarchs controlling the
nation’s political narrative.Democracy is a form of government in which the
supreme power is vested in the people, and exercised directly by them or by
their elected representatives.
Unfortunately,Pakistani democracy depicts a different ground reality as voters
after having elected their representatives virtually become subjects of powerful
elite who ride a rough shod over them and shatter all of the voter’s hopes by
neglecting their problems. Promises made during election campaigns are forgotten
and prove dreams selling, while the perks of public offices are fully enjoyed.
The irony is that the same elite group gets elected repeatedly and election
campaigns are held as rituals, because political parties have become dynasties.
Top leaderships of the parties have assumed unprecedented powers by amending the
constitution through 18th amendment.
Politics is the process through which communities and civil societies pursue
collective goals and resolve the contradictions, disagreements and
socio-political conflicts.
However,Civil society means accommodating plurality, establishing
egalitarianism, safeguarding human rights and stipulating basic need oriented
policies that give priority to development. In a larger sense, civil society is
rooted in democracy, constitutionalism and is based on supremacy of civilian-led
institutions anchored on distributive justice. People of Pakistan have used
their sovereign rights by participating in the political process by electing
their own representatives to govern them.
It doesn’t take a genius to conclude that elections are the battle in which
commoners, who make the backbone of a real democracy, only figure as bystanders
and not real participants. Indeed, in Pakistan the commoners cannot even think
of getting into the electoral system. Not only because of the prohibitive costs
involved, but also because a surging sea of the citizenry in the country still
living in total bondage even in these contemporary times of tremendous human
emancipation and liberty. The powerless, voiceless and cattle-like citizenry
live as thralls of overbearing pirs, feudal lords, sardars, filthy rich gangster
barons and moneyed upstarts. On paper this citizenry may be fully empowered and
enfranchised but in reality they are not. They remain at the beck and call of
their masters.The stark reality is that the citizenry votes as its masters want
it to vote, as its own will counts for nothing.
Not everything in the law is perfect. Some things are unresolved and remain to
be addressed, such as is today constitution more sacred or the basic needs of
the masses?
BETTER late than never and better several improvements than none —A healthy
democracy must necessarily have electoral participation from all eligible
elements of society and greater participation by women in the democratic process
is surely to the benefit of a progressive society. With a significant number of
minor and major changes to the electoral process envisaged.
Thus, free and democratically acceptable elections demand demolition of feudal,
caste and social stratification of society. Till such changes take place there
is a strong case for reserving seats for peasants and labour in the Senate as
they have a better claim to this privilege with ulema and technocrats.
In the light of preceding points,steps such as firstly,Devising sharply-focused,
meticulously-planned and thoroughly-integrated policies,Secondly,Tapping of
indigenous mineral, geographical and human resources to enhance the availability
of funds with the government,Thirdly,Unfaltering, inflexible and incorruptible
role of judiciary can be taken.
Additionally, Strengthening of local governmentsystem, regular conduct of
intra-party elections and holding of political activities at educational
institutes to promote new leadership plus Professionally mature, responsible and
objective role of media would be useful.Moreover, Initiation of
scrupulously-designed poverty- alleviation programmes and Structural reforms,
institutions buildings and use of technology for the eradication of corruption
along Introduction of civil service reforms to improve the bureaucratic
structure will bring fruit.