The Bewildered Democracy

Sir Winston Churchill once quoted this amazing and historical dictum,

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."

If we take it in the current scenario, indeed a common Pakistani that has been given hard time by the heinous nature of the current democratic system prevailing here can genuinely argue about the matter.

On one side modern day Champions of democracy in Pakistan consider their democracy or liberal democracy their secular religion and free and fair elections their holiest of sacraments. Even many of them never forget to declare in their statements this amazing dictum, “democracy is the best revenge”. Now it’s unclear that whom the target is whether it’s the common public or they really mean the one they should be. The past track record of all the democratic governments in Pakistan clearly depicts that they have never dared to scan the vicious actions of any dictator and to bring them in front of the courts to answer for their evil deeds rather embodied their remnants with full honor and departed these dictators to out with full dignity and fair valedictory manner. On the other hand the common man has absolutely different experience of all this and is deeply ambivalent about democracy.

When they see their government hasn’t been elected through their ballot but instead has been selected by the America to promulgate US interests in the region and have come into being after signing the ignominious NRO with Musharraf. The complete silences from the government side upon the infamous OBL raid, tragic Salala Tragedy, the presentation of Baluchistan Resolution in US Congress and Hillary’s warning of Pak-US standoff on Pak-Iran gas pipeline even accrue their anxiety up to maximum.

When they see their government is not safeguarding their state interests but instead deceiving them and currying favor from the military’s top brass and its backers in Washington. The complete negligence of the national interests in the form of parasitic NATO supplies likely establishment of Afghan-American military bases and Afghan-Indian military presence on our western borders, Afghan-US strategic deal and the alleged involvement of perpetual anti-state activities by the external forces in Pakistan including attacks on our installations and killing across the country is surely causing frustration among the populace.

When they see their government is indulged in the worst type of corruption, nepotism and depravity and are in front with the Supreme Court on multiple of corruption and treason cases ranging from NRO cases to the memo gate scandal and the current drug scandal definitely enrage them. When they see their elected representatives are enjoying all privileges and takes his duties for granted, go unasked for the dereliction of duty, influence peddling, nepotism, cronyism and willful negligence, walk scot-free, have no qualms about wrongdoing and again get elected which bears testimony to their denigration of the democracy of their country.

When they see their Prime Minister has been convicted guilty in the contempt of court case by the Supreme Court but he considers himself something divine and beyond the law and still carrying on with his post. The lawlessness in the country and then the open disobedience of the courts by the ruling hierarchy compel the common individual to abominate the system which by their fortune is the democratic one.

Viewed so, despite all this democracy is still more suited for Pakistani culture than dictatorship as it gives more local autonomy, especially with devolution but the common Pakistani guy considers all this the mob rule because of its terrific implications he is supposed to face. He wants change but it’s not the matter of nights. We will have to readdress our whole electoral system and setting out a multifaceted improvement policy.

Actually why the situation is so bewildered? I think above all the aforementioned misdeeds of the political mafia there are some other factors that are contributing to the worsening of this system and are corrupting the entire democratic system especially in a Pakistan like society. We need to take some inevitable steps to make democracy a successful saga in Pakistan and to strengthen the fraternity of the nation in general.

If the roots of the tree are not strong definitely it will fall down. Similarly elections are the roots of the tree of democracy. If there will free and fair elections, the plant of democracy will thrive. This can be achieved only where the people are well educated and intelligent enough as democracy doesn’t mean merely counting the votes. It must be real both in sense and spirits. Democracy has failed to prosper here because 80% of our ballet force is illiterate and poor. They are easily influenced by the rich landlords and candidates or sometimes victimized by the political parties’ fake slogans whereas the essence of democracy lies in the general and free will of the public. In this way, democracy has been reduced to oligarchy and aristocracy in our country.

Same is the case with our political elites. The elected members in our country are mostly yes-man who blindly follows their leaders. Just like in the case of Gilani’s current stance against Supreme Court decision to write letter to Swiss government.

Those who call themselves to be the champions of democracy are the least democratic in words and actions. Such an indirect democracy has made mockery of the whole country.

Real democracy stands for civil freedom, justice and equality. This could only be achieved by means of quality education.

When our nation will be literate and social freedom will be there, then genuine and competent leadership will emerge from bottom of our society and it will focus on the social welfare and security of general public and sovereignty of our land.

Sweatshops of feudalism should be closed and traditions of inherited politics must be abolished.

A successful execution of all these pragmatic measures may lead towards a strong democratic Pakistan in true sense and this task is not insurmountable. Otherwise game of Chess between politicians and Military will continue as it was in the past.

The writer is a freelancer and civil engineering student. He can be reached at: [email protected]