Daily Times

More than ever before, the following question is echoing everywhere: where is the country going? This question is on the mind of all, be it the young, old, male or female. Everyone is concerned, deeply concerned, worried, very worried. All individuals in the nation want an acceptable quality of life — neither living below the poverty level nor living in luxury is acceptable. A minimum decent life, good governance, justice and security are desired. Over the last 60 years this goal has not been achieved. The quality of life for most citizens has gone from bad to worse. Even a simple existence — staying alive — is now at stake.

‘Democracy’ and dictatorship have failed. Dictatorship is unpredictable and, therefore, more hope had been pinned on democracy, which has, seemingly, failed. This failure is not of the concept of democracy, but of the polluted brand of democracy that Pakistan imported from the UK and tried to plant in Pakistan. It did not flourish. Its roots are totally moth eaten now. The British and Pakistanis are different people with different traditions, heritage and governance requirements. The British are a combination of the monarchy, lordships and commoners. Pakistanis are commoners with no need for lords or monarchs. Unfortunately, many of our ‘elected’ representatives have dreams of being monarchs or lords. This is not the pattern of democracy suitable for this country.

A highly respectable friend has been kind enough to share some researched material about the recent elections. I quote: “In 2008, the PPP got their 124 seats to become the largest party by getting just 13 percent of the eligible vote bank of 85 million voters. The PML-N’s mandate of 91 seats came from a dismal 8.3 percent of the eligible votes. And the PML-Q got their 54 seats through 10 percent of the eligible votes. Yes, they got more votes than the PML-N. So the three largest parties got approximately 80 percent seats through 30 percent of the eligible vote. Seventy percent of the people rejected them through non-participation (60 percent) or voting for others (10 percent). So, really, any party that can ‘game’ and ‘buy’ the system through ‘rural electable’ pre-poll rigging, every dirty trick, including partnering with their worst enemies, gets them into power.

The 2013 election was no different. The PML-N officially got a mere 17 percent of the registered vote to brag about their heavy mandate of 126 seats from the 272 up for grabs. So, even if one were to accept these official Election Commission Pakistan (ECP) numbers, even then a whopping 83 percent registered voters of Pakistan have rejected the PML-N either by voting against them or not voting. Look at some of the other parties. The PPP takes eight percent of the registered vote for 33 seats and Imran Khan’s PTI takes nine percent of the registered vote (more than the PPP) for their 28 seats. But wait, look at this: the MQM gets three percent of the registered vote for 19 seats and Maulana Diesel Rehman, with 1.7 percent of the registered vote, swings in 11 seats and enough to blackmail everybody.

So, all a party needs is between 13 percent to 17 percent of the registered vote however which way they can — rig, cheat, bribe and then rule with impunity for five years.

Our electoral process and system have to change otherwise we will continue to get the ‘rotten’ eggs back in power who do not have the intent, the passion and even more importantly the skills, capability and capacity to deliver results. It has been estimated that the National Assembly seats rotate amongst 1,246 people. So, it is clear that we will continue to be held hostage by dynastic politics and see the sight of Bilawal hailed as the future ‘people’s’ leader, or a Hamza raising his finger like a Mussolini, as if taunting this spineless nation for its absolute sheep-like acceptance of their exploitation, or a Mariam Nawaz, pretty and charming as she is, nurtured as the next heir apparent and silently but viciously vying with Hamza for the Sharif legacy.”

The most important fact in this quote is that the current ‘democratic’ rule is the rule of a small minority and does not reflect the majority of the people. I have pointed out the irrelevance of our democratic system before in my column ‘Thinking of democracy’ (Daily Times, December 10, 2010). Now the issue has hit the nation in such a strong way that if the ‘silent majority’ continues to be silent, it can only be interpreted as the silence of death or collusion. A ‘change’ has to come if the nation and the country are to survive. If worked out with clarity of mind, sincerity and determination, and supported by mass action by all segments of power, then it can be peacefully achieved. If the situation is allowed to deteriorate further, it can go out of hand. Watch the signs of lawlessness and increase in crime. The attack on Karachi airport is a recent example. If this situation is allowed to persist there will be total chaos, collapse of law and order, anarchy, turf fights and bloodletting, etc. The justice system, a pillar of democracy, has unfortunately failed to deliver. Most of the members of the Assemblies are ineffective. The loyal armed forces are luckily intact.

I repeat: there is no time left to wait. Common sense must prevail and ‘democracy’ must be made to reflect the will of at least the majority of the people. Relevant decision making must be available at the door through local governments, the justice system must be quick and fair and the welfare of the people must be held supreme. We must, therefore, work for a ‘democratic revolution’ for the salvation of the country. Following are some thoughts for achieving this goal as prompted by common sense. Men of greater wisdom can, of course, make improvements.

(To be continued)

The writer is the former CEO Pakistan National Council of the Arts, chairman Fruit Processing Industries, chairman UNESCO Theatre Institute Pakistan and COO ICTV, USA. He is the author of Melluhas of the Indus Valley 8000 BC to 500 BC. He can be reached at naeemtahir37@gmail.com