Democracy is a famous form of government in newfangled world politics. The ancient Greeks were creating the very first democracy in the 5th century BC in the city of Athens. The word democracy comes from two Greek words demos and kratos which means people rule. The first thoroughly modern democracy was engendered in the United States in 1787. Between 1945 and 1960s three dozen new states in the third world gets independence. Third world countries are newly born democracy and Pakistan one of them. There are different types of democracy in different states, Pakistan follow indirect democracy.
According to Quaid Azam, democracy is in the blood of musalmans who look upon complete equality of manhood, musalmans believe in fraternity, equality and liberty. Allama Iqbal accredits democracy as rig out an individual with ultimate freedom.
Early follwing independence, Pakistan acquire British legacy constitutional framework and develop to parliamentary democracy, ensuing immensely from the government of India act 1935. Pakistan acquired its first constitution in 1956. Throughout the first eleven year eight one after another governments were formed and eventually collapsed. Democracy in Pakistan undergoes it initial below in 1958 and from then ahead till 2008. The army and bureaucracy appear after independence as move dominant than the certain class. Unrelieved attempt by military bureaucratic that the country rooted from colonialism.
Abraham Lincoln defined democracy as a government of the people, by the people and for the people. In Pakistan this definition is totally changed and it may be defined as government of elite, by the elite, and for the elite. Pakistani Politian’s use democracy directly or indirectly for their own benefits. Worse luck feudal culture has polluted the Pakistan history. In chasing of personal gains and thirst for political power feudal joined politics to grow their influence over the poor. Elected governments have been extremely undemocratic in their function. Pakistan faces instability both economically and politically because no one PM completed their office tenure.
Free and fair elections, free education, freedom of speech, equality in justice, religious freedom and tolerance are some core characteristics of democracy. Unfortunately Pakistani democracy has lack of all these core characteristics. Before elections almost all political leaders promised that they will work for the implementation of core values of democracy when they came into power. But after winning election and came into power they could not fulfilling their promises. Quiet all governments could not get on the primary problems of common citizens. Public is still ache from basic outfit of life, food, water, energy and health.
The reason of failure of democracy in Pakistan is that Pakistan has mixture of different form of government; beside democracy other form of government also existed in Pakistan like dictatorship, oligarchy, theocracy, and aristocracy. Pakistan has some characteristics of oligarchy in which state rule by a few families of Pakistan. On the other hand Pakistan also has few qualities of theocracy in which some people wanted to run Pakistan according to teaching of Islam and Islamic ideology. And somehow Pakistan has few features of aristocracy in which small elite ruling class have power over peasant.
In other word democracy in Pakistan by name and you can see only in public speeches. In manifestation of Pakistan the actual problem is not the democratic form of government even so the autocratic approach of the government and leaders. Although all democratic government wane to retain peace and law and order in the state. The mantle and authority of big money contributor should be controlled and reduce. For the success of democracy in Pakistan there is necessity to escort merit and get rid of corruption in all organization and institution. Just good and healthy education put forward true change in society. The public would be able to grasp about the democratic norms and values. Pakistan needs strong institutions and awareness for the implementation of true definition of democracy.
Written by Muhammad Umar Ashfaq, a student of LLB at Quaid_e_Azam Law college okara and CEO of Global Youth Power organization
