By: Insaf Ali Bangwar
Owing to living in a handicapped democratic society that is failed to evolve (rather devolved) even after decades, the public of the country is used as an asset to the powered class despite the fact that it (democracy) is the most acknowledged set-up all over the globe. States failed to grow on the democratic principles, and get involved in plutocracy, autarchy and despotism.
Pakistan has, since its inception, been lacking the true principles of democracy which allows every individual everything considered necessities. Unfortunately, so far, the country is run in line with totalitarian inclination or simply by those who were unaware of the leadership potential. Resultantly, no democratic principles have ever deepened their roots. Country, running rowdy and disorderly, has never tested the ripped fruit of democracy, thus, the irregularities happening are no more irregular.
This raises the question of what went wrong with the democracy of Pakistan. To start with, the country, since its very inception, never got a leader who would have helped frame policies in the favor of the masses, however, everyone tried to favor themselves initially, thus, myopic policies coupled with the incompetence of leaders ruined the true sense of democracy and vanished and neglected its implications. Always lacking a leadership, public-centered dividend were divided, and ultimately, to date, the country faced an economic default imminent.
If one claims Pakistan is functioning democracy, that would be a source of farcical following the elite class’ atoning social, moral and ethical dividend into their favor. Favoritism, nepotism, fanaticism and extremism triggered by the powered class have ruined the rule of egalitarianism and social equilibrium. The malaise condition of democracy in the country is never questioned following the handicapped rule of law and civilian supremacy, despite that, if one do dissent, is plundered, threatened and even forgotten forever.
The circumstances Pakistan going through are of belling the Cat that who would bell the cat though everyone wants to avenge the feline foe. The time span of seven decades passed only perishing the most vulnerable masses since their stance never got any importance, thus, democracy in Pakistan is mere in name, however, in the genuine democratic society, the public is the real stakeholder. Let a question be asked can the real stakeholder — public — make myopic policies which forever are harmful for them? This happens only where the democracy is absent. Democracy sans function makes no sense, does it?
In a democratic society, an election is considered its soul, this means that wherever free and fair election is missing, deem that, there, democracy is no more with us, its time for the funeral procession. Not a hearsay, rather an experienced conclusion of seven decades. And what not to use the green book — the Constitution — of the country, though younger, has almost every solution of the irregularities happening daily.
The election days paint rather a grim and gloomy picture of the manipulated masses where with exorbitant money, voters are coerced to bulldoze into the polling booths. The unconscious and conscienceless masses are bribed, exploited, threatened and even out surfaced in case they disagree to vote in their favor. Honestly, is this real democracy? Confidently, of course not. What the father of the nation indicated the masses, and what is happening in the country, are opposed things with day and night difference.
The civilized dissent and healthy discussions are far away to face since they are not encouraged, though these practices guarantee a nation to flourish with flying colors. Intolerance is high in this regard. The supplication of Lord Mountbatten “may Pakistan prosper” is yet to be surfaced.
The politicians and policies, both are against the masses, though, in genuine democracy, the both do not exist. The political musical chairs is yet to be finished and the myopic policies are yet to harm the public interest.
Another rhetoric used by the political parties is they manipulate the masses through emotive articulations despite the fact that in the functioning democracy, the public is the real stakeholder and its center idea is self-governance. However, in the prevailing circumstances, it is a farcical by the public and powered class since both are not doing their due duty. Given that, no silver lining appears to rehab the handicapped principles of a democratic state. As a result, the crisis loom larger by the day.
It is the peak time for all the political leaders, parliamentarians and state institutions to step in to curb the dwindling practices of democratic principles because is the sole way to heal the malaise state of democracy. To start with, stop the game of political musical chairs, never let their etiquette evaporate whenever the heat of din, cacophony and brouhaha raises. Furthermore, the state institutions should put the public interest above all else, in this way, the deteriorated health of democracy can be rehabilitated.
The writer is a freelance writer.