Daily Times

Pakistan’s democratic system is in jeopardy. Civilians and the military have taken turns to rule Pakistan, but the system, arguably, has remained the same, ‘unscathed’ by democracy. In Pakistan, democracy remains both illusive and elusive. What we have is something that looks like democracy, but does not work like one.

Democracy is a dynamic, not static, process but Pakistan’s “democracy” is stuck. I wonder at times if Pakistanis understand what democracy truly entails. Is it merely the electoral outcomes that constitute democracy in their minds or is it the all-encompassing manifestation of respect, freedom, and equity that one would associate with the very idea of democracy.

Pakistanis appear rather confused about even the electoral manifestation of democracy. Given that the democratic rule and institutions have been in place in Pakistan since 2008 and that the democratic forces have, more than once, prevailed over military dictatorship in Pakistan, the lack of enthusiasm for democracy amongst Pakistanis should be a concern for all.

An overwhelming majority of Pakistanis is distressed about the sorry state of economic affairs. It appears that James Carville’s adage, “It’s the economy, stupid” also holds true for Pakistan where 58 per cent of Pakistanis prefer strong economy over a good democracy (34 per cent). While I see the two as not mutually exclusive, still Pakistanis appear more prudent to prefer bread, clothing, and shelter over empty promises of the same from the beneficiaries of the electoral processes.

Democracy is a dynamic, not static, process but Pakistan’s “democracy” is stuck.

At the same time one wonders why almost 58 per cent Pakistanis no longer see democracy as the preferred system of governance. Whereas Pakistanis continue to hold conflicting objectives for democracy they also suffer from the Messiah syndrome. Instead of striving to build democratic institutions, a large number of Pakistanis would prefer to wait for a strong leader who may one day turn their fortunes around.

When asked to choose between a democratic government or a strong leader, 61 per cent of Pakistanis opted for a strong leader over democracy. This is hardly productive. No one man can fix the nation, especially when democratic principles are not embedded in the social fabric.

Experiments with democracy resumed in 2008, but the repeated blatant thefts of power have left us shell shocked. The Zardari government, which came to power in 2008, is partially responsible for people losing faith in democracy in Pakistan.

It paved the way for mismanagement and poor governance which has since made the lives of ordinary Pakistanis difficult who now live in a country where water and power supplies are intermittent at best, law and order do not exist, and unemployment amongst the youth has reached unprecedented highs. I suspect that millions of voters in Pakistan, like me, wonder whether they even believe in the promise of democracy anymore. The elections in February 2024 proceeded without Imran Khan, the popular former Prime Minister.

Mr Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, faced severe electoral challenges including intimidation, detention and arrest of its members. Former PTI figures had to run as independents. The Supreme Court even barred the party from using its popular election symbol, a cricket bat. Mr Khan was a national cricket hero before turning to politics.

So we went to the polls with a sense of frustration and futility. Pakistanis, especially young adults eligible to vote for the first time, asked themselves: Why vote for politicians who seem to have no goal other than to take power and use it against their opponents? There was a palpable tension and the unavoidable question: What was this election even for?

The election gloom matched the existential difficulties that Pakistan faces. An economic crisis, marked by spiralling inflation and unemployment, compound the challenges for a country already struggling to house, educate and provide proper health care for the world’s fifth most populated country.

Pakistani elections are marked by vote rigging, political horse -trading and corruption. No matter who wins, they inevitably disappoint because the incumbent is always focused more on staying in power and undermining their opponents than serving the people.

Voters in Pakistan are told that their voice matters but we are still waiting for proof that anyone is listening. Public perception of politicians has not improved and 81 percent of Pakistanis believe that people enter politics for gains in power and influence, which is a threat to democracy. When asked from people, they believe that economic inequality, corruption, fraud, and foreign influence are the greatest threats to democracy in Pakistan.

Though dissent, civil disobedience, self-defense, freedom of expression, political participation, and appropriate exercise of authority are essential ingredients of a democratic system, their misuse leads to the democratic dilemma, which serves the undemocratic forces well.

When your alleged protectors are the ones to attack you for exercising your democratic rights, it’s a scary world. Has the current crisis and the way politicians’ brazen preoccupation with the struggle for power is ripping the country apart while it burns, left any doubt that the “democracy” we have, has been part of the problem, not the solution? In fact, it is this very “democracy” that has provided legitimacy to bad governance, produced weak governments opposed to reforms for fear of losing elections, and has kept recycling. Above all, it has lacked substance.

True democracy has both form and substance. The form manifests itself in electoral democracy, sustained by a process of free and fair elections, and peaceful and orderly change of governments. However, the form must embody good governance to empower people, and it can do so only by resting on free and representative institutions, constitutional liberalism or any other value-based system, strong rule of law, and a just and equitable social order. That is the substance. Without substance, democracy remains hollow. It has no soul.

In sum, democracy’s core idea is humanism. The whole objective of giving people the right to choose who will govern them on their behalf is to ensure the implementation of this very ideal. Otherwise, what is the purpose of self-governance?

Given the chance to self-govern, would people like to bring themselves to grief with their own policies? Certainly this was not the intent. Unless a nation shows this fundamental understanding of democracy and takes steps to put itself on the road to democracy, it will never get there. It will keep moving in circles or going backwards.

Democracy is no doubt the best form of government but go and ask the masses in societies that are grappling with serious state and nation-building challenges what is most important in their lives. What is important for them, they will tell you, is social and economic justice, human security and dignity and the hope for a better future. They will like any government that provides this kind of life.

The writer is an ex-banker and a freelance columnist. She can be reached at tbjs.cancer.1954@gmail.com