“Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions. When there is no sharing of power, no rule of law, no accountability, there is abuse, corruption, subjugation and indignation.” Atifete Jahjaga
Democracy is construed as a system that would advance the interests of a people and the state and not allow any expediency to impede the way. In Pakistan, it has degenerated to being used as an umbrella to hide under and escape the lashings of accountability.
Imagine the latest bonhomie among the Sharifs and the Bhutto/Zardaris! Not in the too distant past, they were hurling invectives at each other which can’t even be repeated in print. Now, we hear reiterations of undying resolve to work together – not for advancing the cause of democracy or the state, but to save their skin from punishment for their loot and plunder.
And watch other members of these mafias lined up like slaves, parroting sickeningly stale lines in defence of their criminal masters. This marks a new degenerative low for Pakistani politics where every crime is justified as a brave new bid in the grandiose cause of saving democracy.
People of this country have witnessed democracy being used as a tool for promoting the personal agendas of its perpetrators across divisions and divides. Whoever ascended the throne started with unleashing countless steps to perpetuate their hold on all levers of power so that their rule could continue to eternity! This boiled down to appointments even at the lowest rungs on the basis of loyalty rather than ability or merit and holding the institutions hostage in the throes of executive authority. This is how they were able to garner the allegiance of battalions of personal servants and captive institutions to ensure their victory at election time.
In this country, we are constantly talking about democracy, but never talk about what kind of ‘democracy’ it is that we desire to have. The democracy that we have created is not rooted in any deep-set faith, be that at the personal or the institutional level. Can one imagine that the leaders, who have ruled the country not once but many times, would degenerate to using democracy in the manner they do – to keep themselves beyond the domain of law? And, while the ordinary people of the country may rot in confinement, these leaders, even when they are accused of mammoth corruption, plunder and pillage, should continue to reside in the comfort of their palatial abodes?
Democracy is the offspring of democratic thinking and values. The political parties are the nurseries of such learning. In Pakistan, these parties are run not as democratic institutions, but as family oligarchies. No outsider can even dream of ascending to the top. They begin and must continue to remain just menial bootleggers responding to every crappy call of their masters.
This is also contrary to what is contained in the Political Parties Order (PPO). Under the head of “Elections within the Political Parties”, it is stated at Number 1 that “the party leader and other office-bearers at the federal, provincial and local levels shall be elected through secret ballot based on a democratic and transparent system”.
It is further stated in the PPO that “every member of the political party shall be provided with an equal opportunity of contesting election for any party office, including that of the party leader” and “all members of the political party at the federal, provincial and local level shall constitute the electoral college for election of the party general council at the respective levels”.
