In praise of democracy

Head of PPP Media Cell
Dictatorship and national interests do not go hand-in- hand. It has never been so; it will never be. It is government of the dictator, by the dictator and for the dictator -- so this yawning gap of serving the people and the country cannot be bridged even by most beneficial autocrats. Pakistan's chequered history bears witness to it quite clearly because each dictator proved bigger disaster than the earlier ones. The first one insulted the genius of its people for branding Pakistani people not fit for democracy, his successor wrought on the nation grotesque humiliation when one arm of the country was cut off. The third dictator silenced the peoples' leader Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, not his ideology, who fought relentlessly for their rights against all odds. The dictator that followed him kept the people in the dark on the Kargil debacle that invoked insulting comments in the international media about him and the institution he represented that did not give him the chartie blanche to misuse the office over and above the Constitution.
The realisation swaying right across the world suggests the endorsement of the view, 'there is no substitute to democracy no matter how fragile and inapt it may be'. The number of countries now under democratic dispensation is considerably higher than it was in the twentieth century, and it is increasing incrementally at a fast pace. This narrative is gaining recognition right across the globe because the countries those have finally got rid of tyrant regimes have been making enviable progress in all spheres of national life on sustainable basis. The countries like Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Malaysia, Turkey, and Indonesia etc. are the shining examples of the contemporary world that have been on the trajectory of peace and progress under the democratic political system characterised by continuity.
This makes sense. Democratic dispensation has to be responsive to the aspirations and expectations of the people. It cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the public opinion due to the narrative of self-preservation as well. Its stated policy to serve the people at its best is always a foremost priority. Representative government stays put in the saddle till it enjoys voters' support. It cannot afford to lose sight of the national interests or peoples' welfare because it is answerable to the people. Indeed, national interests are best served under a representative government. In non-representative government, national interests are subject to unpredictability because its top priority is to stay in power. The history of Pakistani politics is testimony to this heart-sinking bitter truth as all tales of hubris revisited Pakistan during eras of autocratic rulers.
The dislodging of legitimate governments through unconstitutional means triggers the process of decomposition and decay in the state and the society. The resultant disconnects and disagreements between the people and the rulers create an environment of despondency and mind-numbing political alienation among the people. When elected governments hold the reign of the country, the cycle of development and national reconstruction/integration starts unfolding in leaps and bounds because the people being the stakeholders tend to earnestly contribute for laying the foundations of integrated development in all spheres of national life. Their sense of realisation of participation in the nation building process serves as a booster to work hard for the shared cause.
Balochistan, for example, is a peaceful province as compared to what it was before 2008. Most of the nationalist parties boycotted the national elections in 2008 but took part in 2013; credit goes to the continuity of the democratic process. Today, the province is almost in the mainstream politics of the country being run by an elected government led by Dr Malik.
Fair representation is the congenial approach to address the political and economic alienation of the people. People start getting the dividends of democracy. The trend continues till the process is disrupted by the forces that are notorious to thrive on the miseries of the common people. In Pakistan, rumours mills start running on overdrive to gloss over the memorable achievements or mega plans of the elected/civilian governments. Their small failures are generally blown up out of proportion on the behest of the vested interests to undermine the democratic system. Notwithstanding, the solution of the ills of democracy is in injecting more democracy rather than disrupting it.
Today, Pakistani politics is poised to democracy because the enabling environment in the country commensurate with it. The scope of the misadventure has been considerably reduced due to the emergence of powerful media, independent judiciary and the assertive civil society. The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development (PILDAT), in its latest survey has revealed that popularity of democracy has registered 7% upwards trend among the people of Pakistan. It is pleasing development indicating that space of maneuvering for traditional forces is shrinking to the good fortune of the nation.
Other surveys conducted by various organisations also testified this trend earlier to the utter satisfaction of the overwhelming majority of the people who want to see this country's resurrection as per the vision of the father of the nation where all enjoy equal rights without discrimination.
Not surprisingly, dictatorship model of governance has failed repeatedly in Pakistan and national predicaments today are bequeathed due to the poor judgments of tyrant rulers. On the contrary, elected/civilian governments, despite the impediments at the national and international levels, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto not only conceived nuclear programme for the country but also implemented it as his foresight told him that country's independence could be ensured only by acquiring the nuclear power status. He also steered the country out of the constitutional crisis by giving consensus Constitution of 1973. The Constitution, reflective the aspirations of people, has been keeping the federation of the country intact despite many turbulent periods in between. Pakistan acquired missile technology during the elected government of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto that made the defence of the country impregnable. Giant industrial complexes like Pakistan Steel Mills (1973), Heavy Mechanical Complex Taxila (1972), and Ordinance Factories Wah (1951) soon after independence etc. were all inaugurated during the elected/civilian rules. They knew very well the strategic importance of these mega projects in protecting and promoting the national security besides their immense relevance to the country's economy.
Not the least, rich tributes to Feroz Khan Noon, Prime Minister of Pakistan for few months, who purchased Gwadar from Oman. Its huge strategic and trade potentials cannot be defined in words even today. Its strategic importance is likely to surge vertically and horizontally manifolds in future. This speaks volumes of the vision of the civilian governments as compare to the dictators. They cannot be a deliverer in the real sense.
To prove the argument, the first dictator in Pakistan denied the people of their choice when he introduced sham basic democracies instead of full-fledged democracy. He dragged Pakistan into a futile war halting the process of national development and triggering the process of disintegration of the federation because East Pakistani felt totally defenseless and isolated in 1965 war.
Pakistan was dismembered during the watch of successor dictator in Pakistan. Siachin was lost to the enemy during the times of ferocious dictator. Kargil debacle attributed to yet another dictator that caused acute national embarrassment in the international community.
The other dimension of dictatorship is equally devastating because it prefers brinkmanship over diplomacy. In our perspective, all wars with neighbouring country were fought when country was under the clutches of dictatorship. Ironically, all losses to the national territory were wrought on the nation during the non-representative governments. Those who still are against democracy, or strive to undermine it through their omissions or commissions, have serious problem of sense of proportion and history almost synonymous to their hostility to people and the country.
All countrymen should know that never an inch of country's territory was lost to enemy during the representative/civilian rules in the country. All national embarrassments in this regard were inflicted on the country during dictatorial rules. Their inaptness and naivety made the country as a laughing stock among the international community. How outrageous and shameful? Their mindset deserves condemnation that was excessively prone to the narrative of self-aggrandisement. Their misadventures mortified the prestige and sanctity of the security institutions. Their crime is unpardonable and it should be adjudged so.
It is quite appropriate to mention here that Pakistan security forces delivered handsomely whenever these acted under the umbrella of peoples' governments. The example of Malakand Operation in Swat proves the point that met with resounding success, highly acclaimed both at the national and international levels. Similarly, Zarb-e-Azb military operation has won the laurels the world over. The popularity of the Army under the command of General Raheel Sharif has surged phenomenally that was reduced to the needle point during General Musharraf's era. The underway National Action Plan will inevitably succeed in eliminating extremism and terrorism because the people of the country have taken the ownership against extremism and terrorism and the security apparatus is fully focused and following the evil doers to their final abode, hell.
Democracy is a win win situation for all-- the people, the country and the state institutions.
muhammadshaheedi@yahoo.com