Democracy has been portrayed by our politicians as the cure for all evils. Nothing could be more fallacious than this. Democracy is just a system of governance of which parliamentary democracy is one form, inherited by us from the British Raj. On its own, it does not offer the solution for anything. To get results, it has to be coupled with good governance administered by competent men and women, chosen through the process of elections by politically aware and free thinking electorate. If people fail to elect the right people - democracy fails.
We have seen many systems come and go in our country. Four military coups introduced systems that initially transferred the command to army personnel over the civilians. The induction of army officers could not be sustainable for longer periods and had to be stopped after brief spells. Most of the lower rank army personnel were gradually withdrawn barring the key positions. Soon, public representation through elections became inevitable and some kind of democratic system had to be put in place.
The military-backed controlled democracies resulted in better infrastructural development, order and prosperity. The downsides were, however, starker, as we lost half of the country, religious extremism soared and the attempt at creating national harmony utterly failed. Each experiment was eventually followed by civilian democracy. The realisation has finally sunk into all segments of society that free and fair democratic form of government envisaged by our founding fathers has to be made to work. Let it evolve with time.
The last five years of the most unadulterated democracy our country has seen have been poorly managed, resulting in nothing but chaos. Too much freedom too soon with a void of ideology has bred contempt for each other. Unity, faith and discipline have been eroded. In this acrimonious, free for all and uncontrolled environment everyone is trying to undermine the other. Misuse of authority is rampant. There is total lack of determination and foresight to check those who disrupt peace by using arms or plan to sabotage the system for ulterior motives. People are beginning to wonder if it is democracy or anarchy.
What happened in Lahore on Sunday, February 10. An innovative public transport system completed with 11 months of rigorous construction work and exemplary public cooperation was being inaugurated, attended by tens of foreign ambassadors and dignitaries. At the same time, at a stone’s throw, an opposition party stalwart was encouraging the rebellious young doctors to carry the protest to the venue of the festivities. Should responsible citizens be accessories to creating situations with a distinct potential of disorder (notwithstanding the merit of the right to protest)? When can we learn to recognise achievements and be proud of them?
Earlier in the month of January, a firebrand with sworn allegiance to a North American country descended on the capital out of the blue and held the city hostage assisted by thousands of his followers, to make demands that may not be his business. What a nation are we that go down on its knees to any frivolous mob challenge with clear mala fide intentions. How can such a timid government hold high its head and its credentials?
It had to be the Supreme Court of Pakistan that lent a twist in the tale of the short rise and rise of Dr Tahirul Qadri. What others were talking mutely was taken upfront, cornering the eloquent scholar. Can a fly-by-night dual national, resident abroad, suddenly appear and challenge the constitutional provisions, is a question needed to be discussed threadbare to remove ambiguities. Who else could do it better than the Supreme Court, once it had inadvertently been thrown in their domain. That it did in a befitting manner by first questioning the motives.
Indeed, overseas Pakistanis are an undeniable asset. However, many of these are now into third and fourth generations for whom the native country of their elders is little more than folklore. Most of them who have acquired a foreign citizenship will never return to live permanently in their former homes. Their sympathies, love and attachment may stay with their origins, but their loyalties will rest with the country where their future lies. In case of a hypothetical clash of interests between the two nations, pragmatism and survival instincts will not allow them to go against their adopted countries.
The billions of dollars remitted by overseas Pakistanis that props our economy is cited as an argument for special favour, as we tend to weigh priorities, relationships and loyalties in terms of money due to our material instincts that have deeply infiltrated our thinking.
One forgets that firstly, it is this country that provided them the background, skills and education at considerable expense to the exchequer that enabled them to do so. Secondly, the percentage of the remittance from the dual nationals is less than 10 percent of the total - the balance comes from other patriotic Pakistanis in the Middle East, whose ties are relatively more interlinked to their homeland. Thirdly, the track record of most of the high profile dual nationals in the service of this country has not been that bright. Fourthly, this factor of easy money has added to our complacency in striving to achieve self-reliance like other foreign assistance programmes. True loyalty springs without any strings attached.
The press and television media sometimes does a disservice to the nation by blowing up unnecessary controversies and uncertainties in an environment that is already volatile. This is not to say the politicians are in any way slack in providing them enough ammunition to fire. An ineligible Fata resident, who is not a registered voter of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is appointed as its Governor in an appalling display of incompetence at the highest levels. A regional party gets uninterrupted coverage on television channels that received veiled threats and insults routinely hurled against opponents.
Meanwhile, our elected President is defiantly flouting the impartiality of his august office by active involvement in party affairs and practically heading its election campaign. Oblivious to previous charges of mega corruptions that he should be endeavouring to obliterate, reportedly, he accepts a gift of billion rupee worth of property in Lahore.
The economic indicators have never been worse. Discipline is in tatters. Respect for law is minimal. Mutual recriminations and lack of cooperation among institutions and individuals are at their peak. Political parties thrive more on creating divisions in order to strengthen their own positions than promoting national unity to strengthen the country. Polarisation among regions, religious sects, ethnic and linguistic groups has reached alarming proportions. Disintegration of the country has never appeared more distinct a possibility than now.
Elections 2013 present an opportunity to demonstrate our maturity and conviction in the democratic form of government by full participation and by following our conscience to elect the right candidates. It also presents a test of whether have evolved as true democrats or are still entangled in the biradri, feudal and money culture. Let there be no doubt that the worst democracy where people have freedom of expression is better than the best dictatorship where people’s spirits and thought process are stifled.
The writer is an engineer and an entrepreneur. Email: k.a.k786@hotmail.com