Democratic ideals are easier to pay lip-service to than they are to implement
Most countries around the world are struggling with overcoming elite capture and paying genuine heed to the will of their people
In countries with large populations, and a general dearth of resources, the distortion of democratic ideals is particularly glaring, which in turn produces varied governance inadequacies
There are major democratic deficits within South Asia
Democracy is under threat in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka
In India, Hindu majoritarianism is undermining democracy
In Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina’s one-party system has stifled democracy
Sri Lanka is still trying to come out of the shadow of the Rajapaksa brothers, despite their ouster following the collapse of the country’s economy
In the case of Pakistan, both authoritarianism and outsized military influence on the political-economy are blamed for corroding the body politic
A recent ‘State of Democracy in Pakistan’ report by PILDAT rightly termed 2022 an especially depressing year for democracy
While Pakistan has apparently been ruled by democratically elected governments for a decade now, the military is still considered the most powerful state institution
Military coups may no longer be tenable, but the military still exerts a heavy influence on political processes
PILDAT aptly points out how different institutions of the state continue to undermine each other, which in turn prevents the democratic system from maturing
For instance, it cites the assertiveness shown by the Election Commission of Pakistan when it took notice against several government officials for alleged rigging in the Daska by-poll in 2021
However, the judiciary last year then decided to reverse ECP action against the accused polling staff
In the past, the judiciary has had a mixed record in terms of supporting democratic processes
Consider, for instance, articulation of the ‘doctrine of necessity’ on the one hand, and the judicial activism which enabled the overthrow of the military regime in 2008
Ironically, mainstream political leaders are reluctant to allow devolution of power to the grassroots level, as evidenced by the hesitation of several past democratically elected governments to operationalise local governments
The internal structures of political parties are hardly democratic either
Political leaders also want to lead from the top, and hardly pay any attention to engaging with the legislative process
The bureaucracy has often enabled various rulers to bypass due processes as well
Hamza Alavi had aptly described the governance system in post-colonial countries like Pakistan as ‘overdeveloped’ states
The governance system put in place by the colonial administration was meant to rule over people rather than to represent them, and despite years of independence, it seems that the series of governments which have come to head the governments of countries like Pakistan have continued to rely on similar tactics, despite their claims of representing the aspirations of the people
The lack of respect for democratic norms enables repeated assaults on free media, the use of divisive tactics to polarise society, and the use of political vendettas to undermine opponents in the name of accountability and tackling corruption
PILDAT’s report on democracy noted how Imran Khan’s departure from the office of Prime Minister occurred via a constitutional process of a successful vote of no-confidence
Yet, this constitutional process was initiated only after the ex-PM had apparently lost the establishment’s support
Clearly, the solution to making political processes more responsive and effective is not to prevent civilian governments from completing their full terms
Another bout of general elections is now around the corner
Pakistan is presently experiencing severe economic stress and unprecedented polarisation
The threat of terrorism has also resurfaced
However, these problems should not be used to undermine due process in the name of national security or national interests
What the country desperately needs instead is political stability and political continuity
The solution to Pakistan’s democratic deficit is not discarding democracy but genuinely embracing it instead
Published in The Express Tribune, February 17th, 2023
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| Date: | 18-Feb-2023 | Reference: | View Original Link |
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