Pakistan's recent experience with democracy has rather been exercise in vain and fruits of democracy have turned sour and tasteless. The country's political elite has shown continuous indifference and ineptness to resolve public issues and provide democratic dividend to masses at large. The authoritarian leadership, rubber stamp parliament has never attended to public miseries be it terrorism, energy crisis, gas shortages, security challenges, petrol shortages and other core issues of education, health have been badly ignored. The country is being run on the family lines where it only matters whether you are kith and kin of any politico regardless of merit and required skills per-requisite to fill any position.
The Democracy in any part of world have three essential ingredients. They are elections, accountability and responsiveness. It is fear of free and fair elections and sheer accountability which sensitize the politicos, and in turn they shown sensitivity to the core issues of their electorate. The root of evil is that elections in the country since 1971 have been massively rigged and have been arranged to accommodate the paupers who otherwise don't stand chance even in local elections. The fraudulent politicos invest heavily in their election campaigns, manage the election day staff and do massive irregularities to ensure they are crowned with success. Once they take over the journey of returning back the favors begin to unleash and resources of country's are plundered to earn kick back and commissions. They neither are accountable to anyone nor any system is placed to checkmate their rampant corruption and inaction. The vision of these politicos is rather bizarre and limited to themselves. They never anticipate or nor want to preempt any issue pertaining to poor Janta. They break the records of poor governance and policy failures.
The misadventures of political elite has rather cursed the democracy and people are questioning whether this system of rich, for the rich and by the rich has anything to do with their compounding miseries. The country is undergoing agonizing economic challenges, security risks and leaping forward as a failed state. The country would only go from bad to worst under the leadership of current folks who are only interested to fatten their already overweight bellies and fill their unending pockets. The country is in complete quagmire and jinx and caught in the catch 22 situation. The people want fixation of their ailing problems and in process want initiation of reforms which ensure transparency of elections, realignment of economic woes, provision of civic necessities and improvement in human development index.
The time is ripe to address the grievances failing to do so will create anarchy and alienation towards trailed and tested system. The only beacon of hope in this long tunnel of darkness is that 60% population of Pakistan comprises of youth who are more mobile and urbanized thus giving them enough sense to raise the voices of dissent against political discourse and seek practical solutions not mere slogans. Its better if system is rectified and refined otherwise it is destined and damned for eternal abode.
The Democracy in any part of world have three essential ingredients. They are elections, accountability and responsiveness. It is fear of free and fair elections and sheer accountability which sensitize the politicos, and in turn they shown sensitivity to the core issues of their electorate. The root of evil is that elections in the country since 1971 have been massively rigged and have been arranged to accommodate the paupers who otherwise don't stand chance even in local elections. The fraudulent politicos invest heavily in their election campaigns, manage the election day staff and do massive irregularities to ensure they are crowned with success. Once they take over the journey of returning back the favors begin to unleash and resources of country's are plundered to earn kick back and commissions. They neither are accountable to anyone nor any system is placed to checkmate their rampant corruption and inaction. The vision of these politicos is rather bizarre and limited to themselves. They never anticipate or nor want to preempt any issue pertaining to poor Janta. They break the records of poor governance and policy failures.
The misadventures of political elite has rather cursed the democracy and people are questioning whether this system of rich, for the rich and by the rich has anything to do with their compounding miseries. The country is undergoing agonizing economic challenges, security risks and leaping forward as a failed state. The country would only go from bad to worst under the leadership of current folks who are only interested to fatten their already overweight bellies and fill their unending pockets. The country is in complete quagmire and jinx and caught in the catch 22 situation. The people want fixation of their ailing problems and in process want initiation of reforms which ensure transparency of elections, realignment of economic woes, provision of civic necessities and improvement in human development index.
The time is ripe to address the grievances failing to do so will create anarchy and alienation towards trailed and tested system. The only beacon of hope in this long tunnel of darkness is that 60% population of Pakistan comprises of youth who are more mobile and urbanized thus giving them enough sense to raise the voices of dissent against political discourse and seek practical solutions not mere slogans. Its better if system is rectified and refined otherwise it is destined and damned for eternal abode.
Good peice
ReplyDeleteDear Akhtar Hussain,
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine sent me this link to read and honestly speaking I think I don’t agree.
Your whole blog/essay/diary page/ or whatever you call it is written in a poor form of assumptions, wishes, and personal opinions.
I agree that you have written an abstract piece, but you have not written anything about Pakistan Army, Generals or even people from Rawalpindi (just a symbolic representation). That is the reason that I have written all this with illustrations.
Let us discuss what you are trying to say, only rich people are coming to power corridors through fraudulent elections and they are not performing. But what about the elections of 1990, and 2002 (creation of IJI and Mehrangate Scandal). Most importantly, why do not you feel the need to write even a single line on point why elections were not conducted before 1970. Why have not you mentioned BD elections of Gen Ayub and two fraudulent referendums conducted by military rulers? The most important why are you afraid of writing about 1985 elections.
I agree that electoral process in Pakistan is pathetically poor and I also agree that fear of accountability in the election is the only way by which masses can remove the corrupt politicians. My friend remember, masses not the Generals. (Remember 1958, 69, 77, 99 and next..???) In the sixty eight years of Pakistan's political history, military rulers have ruled this country more than thirty years (and please don't give me the lolly pop of better GDP during those tenures) and you have not even written a single word on eras of our beloved Generals.
I agree that current political leadership is performing poorly in all parts of administration, rather very poor or even not performing at all. I am not going to write more lines on telling you what is good and what is bad about democracy. Because due to heavy influx of controlled media our youngsters are of the opinion that democratic set up is not conducive to Pakistan, the main reason which provided is poor governance. Again I partially agree.
Dear, what should be the solution? I hope you must have gone through the political history of UK and US or even of the largest democracy-India. How will you bring the genuine democracy, how much time do you require - 13 years like Ayub and Yahya, 11 year like Mard-e-momin Zia or General Mushraf (who said I will tailor the democracy).
Now coming to your English, I think I could find a lot flaws in your English (please now don’t tell my English is equally bad. I am writing in a small space provided by you so cannot re-check my stuff, and it is your blog not mine, so you better check your English).
But the main thing is your ideas, I think you need to read a lot before writing.
Best Wishes.
Dear Anonymous
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that you found some time to go through this article. Well during the course of this article i have not mentioned any support for dictators and don't know why have you assumed like this. My criticism on current democratic dispensation is justified and based on meritorious ground provided by current lot of corrupt politicians. My analysis is based on current woeful economic and worst governance and it doesn't mean that i favor dictatorship or dictators of past. I think time has come to move forward and give democratic dividend to the people of Pakistan otherwise no one can save this sinking titanic.
Your last para is very much uncalled for and it just shows the level you can touch while disagreeing with someone. Even if there are mistakes i didn't claim any authority in English language. I have allowed your comments but you should come up with ID and criticize and rest assure any justified criticism will be dealt with dignity.
Dear Hussain,
DeleteNothing exists in this world in a vacuum, therefore rightly or wrongly criticizing the political rulers would not be justified unless you (or we) bring any viable solution. From every beeper on electronic channels to text written in newspapers portray that political rulers have brought this country at the verge of collapse. Even if I agree, (I do agree, partially) I always ask , so what next. Should we hang these politicians or should we import politicians from US or UK.
Secondly, Pakistan is such a wonderful country where martial law rule has visited four times in her short history. Therefore, completely blaming politician will be unjustified, unless equal ink should have been spent on the military’s increasing interference in the political system. And this increasing criticism on politician is made because the roads for martial law should be smooth when they come. I could hear the warning bells are ringing , that “ mere aziz ham watno” are ready. And quoting Mr. Shaikh Rasheed “already 60% Martial Law has been imposed.” (and I do take him serious)
I am certainly sure that you know better than me that there is a huge difference in “blaming directly” , “not blaming” and “keeping indifferent view by not even mentioning the role of military or organization being discussed”.
So just writing a diary page that traffic wardens have become corrupt and therefore they should be removed from the roads is bit unprofessional. It would be considered your wishful thinking. Don’t take my criticism in negative way as if I am undermining your serious efforts but I want that you should write some very serious pieces with a complete picture, with accurate illustrations, with accurate historical references and with honest and viable solutions.
You cannot avoid the criticism on your English by just saying that I have never claimed a mastery on English language. Dear Hussain , nobody does. It is your piece, it is your face and it is your idea that is why we will talk to you on every mistake you make. It is simple, if Shahid Afridi does not play well, we will criticize him and if he plays better, we will admire him.
You should be happy that people are reading you blog, it means you are famous. Let me hide my identity and I am sure we don’t know each other.
Best wishes
Dear Anonymous
ReplyDeleteI once again appreciate your comments and any constructive criticism is being dealt positively. Yes, i should make it clear that it is debatable as which system of governance is better in country like Pakistan. Neverthless, Democracy cant be undermined and compromised and time is ripe that we replace this gutted and and suffocated democracy with better yielding system of governance so that our countrymen could have peaceful and prosperous lives. We must speak up for solutions and take our democracy to level where it could be stable and rock solid.
I think we should always restrict ourselves to the relevant topic and criticise and i can say with conviction that criticism is barometer of future success.
regards