Daily Times

Sir: Rulers in the history of Pakistan have created big messes. They have amended the constitution to serve their own interests. All such amendments should be deleted/reversed. Democracy comes with the choice of the people. The very system fails when the mode of selection, i.e. elections, is rigged. Fair and free elections are the topmost requirement for the healthy growth of democracy. The Election Commission of Pakistan should be liberated from all kinds of political influence. Rule of law should prevail. The constitution should be the supreme law. The sanctity of the constitution should be preserved and justice should be imparted. It has been observed that the judiciary has never gone against the government in history. All this needs separation of the judiciary from the executive to foil any unethical pressure to serve vested interests. The Supreme Court judges can be allowed lifetime tenures (until they voluntarily retire) with attractive emoluments. This will alleviate the fears of dismissal from the executive in case any pressure on them is resisted. Equal fair play should be allowed to all. Freedom of speech and actions should be granted. The members of the assemblies should be allowed to play their part. Every policy and law by the government should be based on the consensus of the majority. Merit-oriented examinations should be introduced for the bureaucracy. The civil servants have played a vital role in rigging elections in the past. Those who resist, lie in eternal peace with a label of Officer on Special Duty (OSD), away from the benefits and privileges of the esteemed institution. Political pressure on them should be taken as a legal offence and prosecuted in the courts. Democracy is the only political system that can be acceptable to the people that are ruled. The benefits of democracy can be seen all around us. All the developed and rapidly developing countries today are predominantly democracies. India can be quoted as a very close and relevant example.

SYED KAZMI

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