Daily Times

Democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. It is a form of government in which power is not concentrated in the hands of only one person. People elect their representatives through their right to vote and in turn expect them to serve them honestly. Though democracy is secure in Pakistan, but the recent wave of political instability has created many misconceptions in the minds of people regarding the meaning and the purpose of the vote in democracy. A number of speeches are being delivered by many politicians to highlight the importance of vote.

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It is important to realize that vote is in democracy, democracy is not in the vote.  Democracy is a broad concept. It is the philosophy of life and the vote is just a small but an important part of it. Let us take the example of a car. It is true that a car cannot run without the steering but all of its parts need to work properly in order to ensure its proper functioning.  In the same manner, democracy has a number of aspects. It is a sad fact that many political leaders say VOTE KO IZZAT DO but don’t explain the true philosophy and purpose of the vote. It is not wrong to say that vote is another name of trust. When people elect leaders by using their right to vote, they trust them hoping that these people will work to solve their problems. This trust directly gives a right to the common man to judge the performance of these leaders. A common man can raise question regarding the performance of the political leaders during their tenure.

We need to analyse who actually disrespects the vote. A person who is elected by votes but indulges himself in corruption and inefficiencies instead of working for the well being of the people is the one who actually disrespects not only vote but also the trust of the people. It is easy to make promises but difficult to fulfill.

During election campaigns, candidates try to convince the people that they will work for the prosperity and rights of the people. Their speeches are always full of promises. As a result people trust them and elect them through their vote. When the time comes to fulfill the promises, many of them do not bother to listen to the complaints of the citizens. Amid this scenario, it is not wrong to say that such leaders do not bother to give respect to the vote and indeed disrespect it badly.

Another point to be discussed here is that many candidates do not feel reluctant to take advantage of the miserable condition of the poor. Some of these candidates give them money and in turn get votes. Such contestants prefer to buy votes rather than getting votes through their performance. It is imperative to realize that meritocracy is important for the survival of democracy in Pakistan. So it must prevail properly. Our constitution gives us the right to speak and express ourselves. So, when people find that the elected leaders are not fulfilling their promises, they can express their disagreements openly. It is a dilemma of our country that when people try to ask questions from such leaders and want to make them accountable they are termed as traitor. Such politicians must not forget that they are supposed to serve the common men. If they neglect this fact, they will definitely be held accountable.

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The vote does not give the license to rule as a king or a queen. All the leaders must realise the fact that they are subordinate to the constitution and answerable to the people. The vote is itself a huge responsibility. When the politicians who are found guilty of corruption are asked about their allegations, they take it as their insult and start preaching the notion VOTE OF IZZAT DO instead of telling the truth about these allegations. People cannot decide about such factors on the streets so they take the matter to the court where decisions are made according to the law and constitution. So if a political leader fails to proof his innocence in the court, it is wrong to blame the courts and instigate the people to speak openly against the judges.

Accountability is the beauty of democracy. It plays an integral role not only in sustaining democracy but also securing it from all evil. It is immensely imperative to the progress of Pakistan. It is important to overcome the menace of corruption so it must be across the board. Now the people of Pakistan are well aware of the fact that a strong and independent judicial system can maintain proper check and balance that further ensures better performances of the institutions. The founder of Pakistan was also a staunch supporter of democracy. All the institutions should work together to strengthen democracy as it guarantees the progress of our country. Democracy is the solution of many social, economic and political issues. Recently, the Chief Justice of Pakistan denied the rumors of judicial martial law and emphasized the importance and stability of democracy. Moreover, our army leadership seems a staunch supporter of democracy as well. Our media is also playing its responsible role to make people aware of the benefits of democracy. Now it is the responsibility of every citizen and all the higher authorities to present themselves for accountability without uttering harsh words against the judiciary. The only way to give respect to the vote is in working for the well-being and the rights of people. If any one is found guilty of any unlawful act, he disrespects the vote and the voters.