Daily Times

Good governance is a distant dream in Pakistan since the uneducated and less education feudal and landlords have been occupying the high ranks both at provincial and national leaving little room for those who are eager to help their people in their respective constituencies. Absence of performance evaluation, accountability and sense of responsibility have created that warrants an overhauling the system by bringing best practices in service delivery. Presidential form of government proves fruitful in order to oust the feudals from the pool of lawmakers.

Pakistan has always oscillated between the good and the bad Governance Models as powers holders reins of the country one after another. The Post-Independence period was tattered as Pakistan faced various economic, Social and infrastructural challenges. Pakistan was deprived of its due share from the joint resources at the time of partition.

Pakistan has experienced both the Presidential and Parliamentary form of governance. Fall of Dhaka in 1971, Sheikh Mujib was denied the Government despite having an absolute majority to form the government.

As a result of Governance Crisis, Pakistan has suffered on many fronts ie economic, social and security. The changing governance models, lack of proper constitutional development and consensus building have forced the fragile state to fall in the governance crisis since no policy framework was followed that may have provided the basis of constitutional development. Ayub Khan wanted a controlled Democracy, since he believed the western form of Democracy did not suit to Pakistan. The biggest change in form governance was the introduction of the Presidential form of government since all the powers vested in the President. The Provinces were given autonomy, equality of mankind, independence of the judiciary; rights of minorities were salient features of the constitution.

The Islamic advisory council was also constituted to advice on Islamic injunctions or laws.

Even the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam had envisaged 71 years ago during his speech found that the presidential form of Government is suitable for Pakistan since a parliamentary form of Government does not work owing to feudal vested interests, illiteracy and lack of visionary leadership.

Actually, he had given clear roadmap that as long as feudalism and feudal approach exists in Pakistan, the democracy cannot develop its roots deeper since these feudal politicians have vested interests that are detrimental to people who vote them to power and tantamount to Islamic Ideologies.

Quaid-e-Azam had given clear roadmap that as long as feudalism and feudal approach exists in Pakistan, the democracy cannot develop its roots deeper since these feudal politicians have vested interests that are detrimental to people who vote them to power and tantamount to Islamic Ideologies

With the resignation of Ayub Khan, the constitutional crises once again aggravated with the abrogation of 1962 constitution.

The 1973 constitution promulgated on 14th August 1973 with an overwhelming majority. The 1973 constitution was the turning point in the history of Pakistan as it was considered the complete constitution which safeguarded the rights of every citizen. Though East Pakistan was separated in 1971, yet Bhutto steer the country out of governance and constitutional crisis and had solved the long-standing issue.

Even, he was not spared, he was hanged under Zia regime and was inducted in the Murder plot of Nawaz Mohammad Ahmad Khan Kasuri’s, consequently hanged on April 3, 1978. Bhutto during his premiership reshaped the foreign policy and made people friendly and people-centric decisions that disrupted the status quo and had great economic extinct since he wanted to establish a World Islamic Bank in Pakistan with the help of Islamic Countries.

Bhutto’s speech UN general assembly still echoes in our hearts as no leader in our history had made such fearless and emotional speech that rocked the Superpowers.

Later, Benazir Bhutto, the great daughter of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto rose to heights of success but his teammates sunk her ship through corrupt practices in Government. Then, Pakistan went into the two-party system i.e. PPP and PML from 1988 to October 1999.

In 1999, Nawaz government sacked and after three years, held elections and his Party PML-Q won the elections. In 2007, Benazir Bhutto returned from self exile and was assassinated during the public gathering.

PPP won 2008 elections on a sympathy vote and Zardari became the President after Musharraf relinquished due to fears of impeachment.

It was the first time that any civilian Government had completed their term and laid the foundation of Democratic Transition.

Finally, democratic transition worked again, and the PTI came into power with the slogan of change and making Naya Pakistan.

If we analyze our history, we would be disappointed to know that most of the time, the martial law administrator governed our country as compared to the civilian government. This gives the message that Pakistani electoral framework only suits a single powerful system means the presidential form of Government as practised in Turkey, Afghanistan and US.

The presidential form of government is the strongest as the president is the head of state and the head of a government at the same time. We are still going through a transition and learning from our past mistakes, yet we need to mull over that which governance model suits our people-parliamentary form of government or presidential form of government or mixture of both.

It is not the time of meddling with both systems or engages in the debate of good or bad system but we should adopt the best governance system suits Pakistan and benefits the common men and bridges the gap between state and the subjects. It has been seven decades since independence that we are struggling to form a strong and vibrant system that benefits the people of Pakistan. Either, we have to part ways with the parliamentary form of Government or adhere to the Presidential form of Government as practised in developed nations of the world.

The writer is a Kandhkot, District Kashmore-based researcher in Policy matters, Political Science, Political Economy, Education, governance, society, Development Planning and Human Rights. He can be reached at armalik067@gmail.com

Published in Daily Times, October 29^th 2018.