Daily Times

Two days ago, attorney general of Pakistan Mr Anwar Mansoor praised the presidential form of government and showed his like mindedness to the Prime minister of Pakistan in favour of the presidential system. The structure of this system isn’t proposed yet by both of these honourable individuals but it is very important that the consequences of this system are discussed.

In United States, the presidential form of government has hit a historic low in terms of people’s trust in it. According to a poll by Quinnipiac, 70 percent of Americans do not trust the populist president Trump.

In the current standing of Pakistani parliamentary system, Imran khan’s PTI won a 116 seats and formed government. In a presidential election, he would’ve faced several candidates and won with just 29 percent votes in his favour. Forming a government with this weak standing would become extremely hard for an aggressive politician like him.

The current division of political ideologies in Pakistan means that no candidate can make a strong government in the near future proving that the civilian authority’s power will become more and more vulnerable to the romance of the Brand Pakistan.

Moreover, with a president calling all the shots, provinces especially Balochistan won’t be given as much attention as it gets, which already is very low. Punjab being 61% of the population is estimated to grow in population by 5-6 million people every 10 year period and adding 16-18 million new and young voters every election too for the next 20-25 year period. This will force candidates to have a Punjab centred narrative. Similarly, provinces of Sindh and KPK will never be able to become as strong and independent as they are after the 18th amendment. Presidential system will divide the country even more.

There is another important aspect of the presidential system that Imran khan and attorney general should be made aware of. With the presidential system, governments in provinces would also require a complete restructuring. The chief executive of provinces will also face similar consequences.

They will have a weak government with an exception of Sindh. The provincial legislative bodies would form alliances easier than at the national level. Imagine PPP PMLN JI ANP BNP and other groups toppling a PTI and Brand Pakistan government in Balochistan or Punjab right now and bringing in a new chief executive. These frequent provincial removals will weaken the civilian authority even more. President will be tied up because every policy move he announces will be met with a response that could create a turmoil in all provinces.

PM Imran khan and Anwar Mansoor should know the consequences of the presidential system. Do they want more provincial divide and treat Balochistan like Ayub’s regime?

Our history gives us a perfect example in support of the aforementioned reasons for failure of presidential form of government with Ayub regime. He used the best lawyer in town to draft his constitution. Barrister ManzoorQadir drafted a very great constitution which led to a presidential election but Jalib’s poem “Dastur” tore it to pieces. ManzoorQadirsb was so disheartened that he came to Aasma Jahangir’s father and complained about Jalib’s poem. Jalib said:

“Phool shaakhon pe khilne lagey” tum kaho,

“Jaam rindon ko milne lagey” tum kaho,

“Chaak seenon kay silne lagey” tum kaho,

Iss khule jhooth ko,

Zehn ki loot ko,

Main nahein maanta,

Main nahein jaanta

Tum nay loota hai sadyon hamaara sukoon,

Ab na hum per chalega tumhara fasoon,

Charaagar dardmandon ke bantey ho kyun?

Tum nahein charaagar,

Koi maane magar,

Main nahein maanta,

Main nahein jaanta.

Hence, saying that an authoritarian system will bring change in this country is just like using an already failed cartridge to shoot at someone. Unless the policy of rigging every single election has been decided by the Brand Pakistan, PM Imran khan and Anwar Mansoor should know the consequences of the presidential system. Do they want more provincial divide and treat Balochistan like Ayub’s regime?

Or give more basis to US Army and take Pakistan through another experimental war like Kargil? To a lay man, the presidential system looks like a way for those who hide behind whatsapp groups and media houses to drive policy directly through installation of a President from their own ranks.

Presidential system will just be a martial law with a front man because it will not give anything to the public but take away their once in a five year chance to shape the direction of the country.

The writer is a senior Finance student and a human rights activist in Toronto. He tweets via @FarrukhJAbbasi

Published in Daily Times, October 9^th 2018.