essay on democracy in pakistan

Democracy in Pakistan Essay with Quotations

by Pakiology | May 24, 2024 | Essay | 1 comment

Explore the evolution, challenges, and progress of democracy in Pakistan in this in-depth essay . Gain insights into the nation’s rich history, the influence of the military, the pervasive issue of corruption, and the role of civil society in shaping Pakistan’s democratic landscape.

Title: The Evolution of Democracy in Pakistan: Challenges, Progress, and Prospects for the Future

Introduction.

Pakistan, a country characterized by its rich and diverse history, has embarked on a tumultuous journey in pursuit of democracy. Overcoming numerous obstacles, its citizens have tenaciously defended their democratic rights and worked diligently to forge a more equitable society. In this comprehensive essay, we delve into the current state of democracy in Pakistan, recognizing its historical context, addressing the persistent challenges it confronts, highlighting the progress made, and considering the prospects for the future.

The Historical Landscape

Democracy, at its core, is a system of government grounded in the principle of representation, allowing citizens to actively participate in decision-making processes that impact their lives. Regrettably, the implementation of democracy in Pakistan has been marred by a series of military coups and periods of martial law, intermittently disrupting its democratic trajectory. Despite these adversities, Pakistan now operates as a federal parliamentary republic with a president and prime minister at the helm.

The Military’s Influence: A Persistent Challenge

A major impediment to democracy in Pakistan has been the enduring influence of the military on the political landscape. Pakistan’s history is replete with instances of military interventions in civilian governance, including several coups and martial law declarations. This persistent interference not only undermines democratic principles but also erodes public trust in the democratic system. Additionally, intelligence agencies have faced accusations of wielding substantial influence in the political sphere, further eroding democratic institutions and processes.

Corruption as a Hindrance: A Deep-Seated Issue

Another significant challenge is the pervasiveness of corruption within Pakistan. Corruption has become deeply ingrained in the country, with numerous politicians and government officials implicated in embezzlement and bribery. This deeply rooted issue corrodes the legitimacy of the democratic process and erodes public trust in the government. The adverse effects of corruption are most acutely felt by marginalized communities, who suffer from a lack of essential public services and resources.

The Resilience of Democratic Aspirations: Signs of Progress

Despite these formidable challenges, the citizens of Pakistan persistently strive to defend their democratic rights and fortify democratic institutions. In recent years, the country has seen a notable rise in the number of civil society organizations dedicated to advocating for transparency, accountability, and the promotion of awareness regarding democratic rights and freedoms. Additionally, the media has played a pivotal role in promoting democratic values and holding the government accountable for its actions.

The Role of Civil Society

Civil society organizations have emerged as vital agents of change in Pakistan’s democratic landscape. They tirelessly work to bridge the gap between the government and the governed, acting as watchdogs for accountability and transparency. Through advocacy, awareness campaigns, and public mobilization, these organizations have managed to shine a spotlight on the pressing issues of democracy and governance in Pakistan. Their activities range from monitoring elections to exposing corruption and advocating for the rule of law.

Media as the Fourth Estate

The media in Pakistan has undergone a transformational journey, evolving into a vibrant fourth estate that plays a crucial role in promoting democratic values. While media outlets often grapple with challenges such as censorship and intimidation, they continue to serve as a check on government power and a forum for diverse voices. Investigative journalism has uncovered corruption scandals, challenged authoritarianism, and provided a platform for citizens to engage in political discourse.

In conclusion, democracy in Pakistan remains an imperfect yet indispensable system, despite the numerous setbacks and challenges it has encountered. The people of Pakistan ardently safeguard their democratic rights, and the fortification of democratic institutions and processes is pivotal for the nation’s future. The enduring challenges posed by military influence, corruption, and public mistrust can only be surmounted through persistent efforts and sustained citizen engagement in the democratic process. As Pakistan continues its journey towards a more robust democracy, the world watches with hope and anticipation, recognizing the nation’s potential to overcome its challenges and achieve democratic excellence. The path may be long and arduous, but the resilience and determination of Pakistan’s people offer a promising outlook for the future of democracy in the country.

Quotes Related to Democracy

Here are a few quotes related to democracy and its challenges in Pakistan:

“A society that puts equality before freedom will get neither. A society that puts freedom before equality will get a high degree of both.” – Milton Friedman, Economist

“The greatest threat to democracy is not the enemies from without, but the enemies from within.” – Thomas Jefferson, Third President of the United States

“I believe that the real solution to the problems facing Pakistan lies in true democracy and the rule of law.” – Imran Khan, Former Prime Minister of Pakistan

“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” – John Philpot Curran, Irish Orator and Statesman.

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Sir you have used a lot of bitter words in this essay which are enough to awake a nation.😭😭😭😭 But It’s reality I think inshallah one day we will achieve that original democracy which will prevent our basic rights and our motherland…..

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Essay on “Democracy in Pakistan” for CSS, and PMS

• January 24, 2022
• Essay for CSS PMS and Judiciary Exam

This is an Essay on “Democracy in Pakistan” for CSS, PMS, and Judiciary Examinations. Democracy is a form of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation, or to choose governing officials to do so.” Democracy is a system of government in which power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or through freely elected representatives. As Democracy is a very popular topic so, here is a complete Essay on “Democracy in Pakistan” for CSS, PMS, and judiciary examinations.

What is democracy? Essentials of democracy Democracy in Pakistan

A brief history

• The early period from 1947-58
• Period of General Ayub and General Zia
• Political turmoil and General Pervaiz Musharraf

Causes of failure of democracy in Pakistan

• Delayed Framing of the Constitution
• Leadership Crisis
• Lack of education
• No independence of the judiciary
• Weak political parties and their infighting
• Delayed elections and rigging
• Corruption and nepotism
• Quasi-Federalism and Conflict between Eastern and Western Wings
• Terrorism and extremism

Pakistani Democracy Vs. Western Democracy

Suggestions

• Effective accountability of the politicians
•  Reforming judiciary
• Abolish feudalism
• Eliminate corruption
• Two parties system on the pattern of the USA, UK
• Amendment in the constitution
• Fair and free election
• Increase the education budget to educate people
• Uninterrupted democratic process
• Strengthening the institutions

Essay on “Democracy in Pakistan” for CSS, PMS, and Judiciary Examinations

“You have to stand guard over the development and maintenance of Islamic democracy, Islamic social justice, and the equality of manhood in your own native soil.” -Muhammad Ali Jinnah,

To acquire immunity to eloquence is of the utmost importance to the citizens of a democracy. – Bertrand Russell

Democracy is a form of government in which all citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal (and more or less direct) participation in the proposal, development, and passage of legislation into law. It can also encompass social, economic, and cultural conditions that enable the free and equal practice of political self-determination. While there is no specific, universally accepted definition of ‘democracy’, equality and freedom have both been identified as important characteristics of democracy since ancient times. These principles are reflected in all citizens being equal before the law and having equal access to legislative processes.

For example, in a representative democracy, every vote has equal weight, no unreasonable restrictions can apply to anyone seeking to become a representative, and the freedom of its citizens is secured by legitimized rights and liberties which are generally protected by a constitution.

Many people use the term “democracy” as shorthand for liberal democracy, which may include elements such as political pluralism; equality before the Jaw; the right to petition elected officials for redress of grievances; due process; civil liberties; human rights ; and elements of civil society outside the government. In the United States, separation of powers is often cited as a central attribute, but in other countries, such as the United Kingdom, the dominant principle is that of parliamentary sovereignty (though in practice judicial independence is generally maintained).

In other cases, “democracy” is used to mean direct democracy. Though the term “democracy” is typically used in the context of a political state, the principles are applicable to private organizations and other groups as well.

Democracy in Pakistan

Democracy in its true spirit has never been allowed to take root in Pakistan. Since its independence in 1947, a military-bureaucratic establishment has always governed the country. Army generals usurp power at their own convenience and quit only when they are forced to quit by mass political movements or by sudden unexpected death. When forced by external or internal pressures, democracy is given a chance but in reality, a group of army generals keeps controlling the decision-making.

This direct or indirect military influence is the greatest impediment to the evolution of a stable governing system in Pakistan. Besides, the army is not solely responsible for this mass but it is our inefficient politicians who provide an opportunity for to army to take over.

A brief history of Democracy in Pakistan

Recalling the last 62 years of Pakistan, democracy is found only as an interval before the next military general comes to the scene. The future of democracy was doomed from the start when Liaquat Ali Khan, the first elected Prime Minister, was shot at a public gathering. Nobody knows to this day who did it and why. From now on, the balance of power was to shift in the favor of the military. A comparison tells us how this shift came up. From 1951-57 India had one Prime Minister and several army chiefs while during the same period Pakistan had one army chief and several Prime ministers.

The same army chief, the Sandhurst-trained general, Ayub Khan was to announce the first martial law in the country in 1958 and then a series of military rules were to follow.

General Ayub Khan could not withstand a popular national movement against him and transferred power to General Yahya Khan in March 1969. Under him, Pakistan lost its half which is now Bangladesh. Power was then transferred to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as the first civilian martial law administrator. Bhutto pursued an independent policy, which was against what generals and the US wanted, and he had to pay with his life.

Charged for compliance in murder, Bhutto was hanged by the next martial law administrator, General Zia ul Haq. The hanging of an elected Prime Minister was shocking news to the world and Pakistan was to have the effects years later. The general died in a mysterious plane crash.

Then came a ten years gap of experimentation with democracy and every two years each elected government was ousted by the special discretionary powers of the president . An end to this ten-year spell came with a new general coming to power ousting the incumbent elected government of Mian Nawaz Sharif. This time the Prime Minister was charged with conspiring against the state and was ousted from the country.

The immediate and foremost requirement of the Constituent Assembly was to frame a democratic constitution for the country. The constitution had to lay down the form of government, and the role of the judiciary, military, and bureaucracy. It had to decide the basic issues about provincial autonomy, religion and the state, the joint or separate electorate, representation of minorities and women in assemblies, fundamental rights, and civil liberties.

The debate over the representation of eastern and western wings of the country and religion versus secularism were the two main hindrances in the way of framing the constitution. As against India, which was able to frame the constitution of the country within two years of independence in 1949, Pakistan took nine years to finalize the constitution in 1956, which did not work for more than two years and was abrogated.

The second constitution was framed by a military ruler General Ayub in 1962 which could last as long as he was in power. Finally, it was after the separation of East Pakistan and a lapse of more than a quarter of a century (1947-1973) that the elected representatives of the people under the leadership of Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto framed a consensus constitution envisaging a  federal, democratic structure for the country and a parliamentary form of government.

This constitution has survived in spite of the breakdown of democracy twice in 1978 and 1999 and hopefully has come to stay. But the delay in framing the constitution harmed the growth of political democracy, as it allowed the authoritarian rule of the Governor-General to continue for seven long years (1947-56), which set this inglorious tradition in the country.

The second obstacle in the way of democracy is the culture of feudalism. Democracy cannot develop in the suffocating atmosphere of feudalism. The history of feudalism in the subcontinent is not very old. It owes its origin to the war of independence in 1857 when different people were awarded large swathes of land by the British government because of their treacherous cooperation with the latter. Those feudal families joined Muslim League when they saw that Pakistan was going to be a reality and inherited power after the death of the founding father. Feudalism has now become a severe migraine for the nation. Democracy and feudalism are incompatible.

Change of faces at the wheel has not served any purpose. Even these feudal lords occupy more than 70 % of our land leaving the people to lead a miserable life. They are senators, ministers, MPAs, MNAs, and also the owners of major industries in Pakistan. There is a crying need to bring some structural changes in order to strengthen the political system. Industrialization has also played a significant role in the strengthening of democracy across the world. Great Britain is considered the mother of democracies on this planet.

Some analysts are of the view that democracy has its origin in the Magna Carta, Bill of Rights and Habeas Corpus, etc. But even after these developments very mighty rulers have ruled Great Britain. In fact, the invention of the steam engine led to the industrial revolution which eradicated the roots of feudalism and the evil of absolute monarchy. All this resulted in the development of democracy. In Pakistan, there is everything from adult franchises to the separation of powers between the three organs of government but no plan for that kind of industrial revolution.

Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the father of the nation and the first Governor-General, died just one year after the establishment of Pakistan on September 11, 1948, and his right-hand lieutenant Liaquat Ali Khan, who was the first Prime Minister, was assassinated on October 16, 1951. About the capability of other leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), the party which had successfully piloted the movement for Pakistan, Jinnah had ruefully remarked that “he had false coins in his pocket”.

Consequently, several ministers appointed initially were not politicians and did not have a seat in the Assembly. Similarly, in 1954, there were several members of the Prime Minister’s cabinet without a seat in Parliament. “The cabinet and other high political appointments reflected a paucity of talent among the politicians.”

It is indeed a sad commentary on the elected members of the first Legislature and Constituent Assembly of Pakistan that they could not find a suitable head of state from among their own ranks. Most of them came from the civil bureaucracy or the military. The civil-military bureaucracy did not have a favorable opinion about the competence of political leaders and often took decisions without consulting them. This adversely affected their political training, development, and growth.

The inability to control the Anti-Ahmadiya Movement in Punjab in 1953 was blamed on inept political leadership. This religious movement was spearheaded by the religious Ahrar Party which had opposed the establishment of Pakistan and now wanted again to come into the limelight. They were supported by other religious parties, i.e., Jamaat-i-Islami, JamiatuiUlema-i-Pakistan, and JamiatulUlerna-i-Islam. The movement was exploited by politicians in their own political interests.

But the civil-military bureaucracy was against the religious parties dominating the power structure either in the provinces or the center. To rescue the city of Lahore where Ahmadis were in a “virtual state of siege” and their properties were being “burned or looted”, General Azam Khan, the Area Commander, was ordered by the Defense Secretary, to impose martial law in Lahore. It was met with the general approval of the people.

It was demonstrated that the civil-military bureaucracy “would not let politicians or religious ideologues lead the country to anarchy”. This also laid down the foundations of the supremacy of the military and orchestrated the initial rehearsal for the recurring imposition of Martial Law in the country and its acceptance by the people.

Lack of education has remained an important impediment to the democratization of countries. This is not just a problem for Pakistan but of the whole Third world. Laski, a famous political thinker said that education is the backbone of democracy. Democracy is a system of governance in which the people choose their representatives through elections. Their strength lies in the ballot box. If people are not vigilant and educated enough to make a better choice, democracy will not flourish in that country.

This is the main reason that even in the countries apparently practicing democracy but the majority of uneducated people are among the under-developed nations. Masses in Pakistan have not found ways of compelling their rulers to be mindful of their duty. Their failures in this regard result from insufficiency of experience and training in operating modem democratic politics. Democracy puts the highest premium on constitutionalism, which is possible only with the predominant majority of people. Pakistan’s democracy can neither improve nor become viable as long as the majority of the population remains uneducated.

Judiciary is one of the most important pillars of a state and in a country where the judiciary is not imparting justice , democracy cannot develop. During the Second World War, someone asked British Prime Minister Winston Churchill whether the British would win the war. The Prime Minister laughed and replied that if the British courts were dispensing justice, no one would trounce the United Kingdom. In Pakistan since 1954 judiciary has remained docile to the wishes of the executive. As Shelley says, “If the winter comes; can spring be far behind”.

In fact, since its birth, Pakistan has been governed by bureaucratic, military, and political elites. The bureaucratic elite generally became more assertive, steadily increasing their power at the expense of the political elite. Ayub’s term of office (1958-69) was the golden era for the bureaucracy, which exercised its powers, unbridled by any political interference. The weakness of political elites can be demonstrated by the fact that during seven years from 1951 to 1958, as many as seven Prime Ministers had been changed.

From 1988 to 1999, four democratically elected governments were replaced on charges of corruption, inefficiency, security risk, etc. The civil-military bureaucracy has dominated governance owing to the inherent weakness of the political parties and their incompetent leadership, resulting in the derailment of democracy thrice in the history of Pakistan, i.e., in 1958, 1977, and 1999.

Pakistan was not created as a theocracy but as a place where an economically marginalized minority could operate a democracy independently. It was to save the people from religious discrimination and domination by an overwhelming religious majority. Moreover, it emerged as a territorial state in the Muslim majority areas of the subcontinent. But the religious and secular groups soon started making conflicting demands while formulating the constitution of Pakistan.

The speech of Mr. Jinnah on August 11, 1947, addressed to the first legislative and constituent assembly of Pakistan, advocated political pluralism and declared that the “religion or caste or creed has nothing to do with the business of the State”. This has not adhered to the Objectives Resolution passed by the Constituent Assembly in 1949, which pacified the demands of Muslim religious parties and elements but was not supported by religious minorities.

The compromise solution attempted to balance the values and the spirit of Islam with the requirements of secularism. Due to a lack of competent and visionary political leadership , and the fact that Muslims constituted 98 percent of the population, the conservative religious leaders, partly due to their conviction and partly owing to their parochial interests, advocated and preached the establishment of a religiopolitical system based on Al-Quran and Sunnah.

They were skeptical of the politico-social development of modem times and western political institutions and forms of government. Their dogmatic theology clashed with the democratic culture envisioned by the founding fathers. Another adverse impact of the adoption of religion as a guiding principle in the constitution, was the promotion of religious sectarianism, especially between the two major sects inhabiting Pakistan, i.e., Sunnis and Shi’as. Some sections of these sects, instead of peaceful negotiations to overcome their differences, often resort to violence, which is against the spirit of both Islam and democracy. These rivalries fostered reliance on the security forces for the maintenance of law and order, which eroded the hold of democratic institutions in governance.

For any healthy constitutional and political system to function smoothly, strong and well-entrenched political parties are essential. Unfortunately, political parties in Pakistan have failed to develop into strong vehicles of national political will. The main responsibility for safeguarding democracy in a country falls on political parties. Pakistan, since its inception, was lacking well-organized and well-established political parties that could carry the representative system of governance forward.

The All-India Muslim League, which had piloted the movement of Pakistan from 1940 to 47, was not a well-organized political party, but it was primarily a movement. Leading a movement and organizing a political party are two different things. Most of its leaders belonged to areas that became part of the Indian Union and their majority did not come to Pakistan. Those who were in Pakistan, barring a few exceptions, belonged to feudal and landowning classes that in their nature were in conflict with the democratic dispensation. In fact “the leadership of the Pakistan movement had few roots in the land that became Pakistan.”

Their incompetence and constant wrangling for power in the initial nine years (1947-1956) were also responsible for the delay in constitution-making. Instead of cooperation and mutual accommodation, there was ceaseless infighting. For instance, as early as 1953, a clash between the leadership of Punjab and the central government led to intense communal riots and the imposition of Martial Law in Lahore, the provincial capital. Even as late as the decade 1988-99 of civil supremacy, the fight between the PML and the PPP led to the repeated dissolution of national and provincial assemblies and the dismissal of prime ministers and their cabinets. Finally, it ended with the military takeover in 1999.

The representative character of the civilian parliamentary government during the first decade of Pakistan’s existence was eroded because the country was governed under the Government of India Act of 1935. The purpose of the Act was “to make the appointed governor-general exert dominance over the elected prime minister.” The Act introduced a representative and centralized system of bureaucratic governance, which was an imperative requirement of the colonial government but not of democratic governance. The first general elections in the country should have been held in 1951, i.e., five years after the previous elections in 1946, but this could not happen till 1970.

The reasons for the delay were that the ruling elite, i.e., civil bureaucrats, migrant political leadership, and weak political parties, had few roots in the masses. As a consequence, general elections could not be held for 23 years (1947-1970) of the country’s initial history. On the expiry of the five years term of Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (1972-1977), the second general elections on the basis of the adult franchise were held on March 7, 1977, which the PPP won with a vast majority.

The opposition parties alleged that the elections had been “rigged on a massive scale”. It has been commented: Elections in Pakistan had been rigged before, notably the presidential election in 1965 and the Provincial Assembly,y elections in the early 1950s, but rigging in these instances did not arouse the mass uprising as it did in 1977. The people of Pakistan were evidently not of the same mind now as they were in those earlier periods.

Corruption in bureaucracy and among political leaders poses a grave threat to good democratic governance. Quaid-i-Azam had termed corruption as “poison” and asked to put that down with an “iron hand”. Now that the international Reconciliation Ordinance, .vnich had withdrawn from prosecution any person “falsely involved for political reasons or through political victimization” between 1986 and 1999, has lapsed on November 28, 2009, the concerned individuals should get themselves cleared in a court of law in a transparent manner. The tribal nature of society in Pakistan is susceptible to nepotism. As an antidote, accountability and transparency are necessary. It is a challenge to the people to reject those leaders and political parties which indulge in corruption and nepotism.

One of the main bottlenecks in constitutional development in Pakistan was that its two wings were separated by about 1000 miles of hostile territory. The eastern wing consisted of one province but was more populous’ than the western wing which was much larger in the area and had as many as four provinces.

The western wing was not prepared to concede majority representation to the eastern wing in the parliament. After a confrontation of nine years between the two wings, the solution was evolved in the l956 constitution in the shape of parity of representation in a quasi-federal structure, neutralizing the majority of the eastern wing and paving the way for the manipulated domination of the western wing.

The domination of the western wing in governance led to an insurgency in the eastern wing which culminated in the separation and independence of Bangladesh in 1971. In post-1971 Pakistan, it came to be realized that ideological moorings alone could not easily overcome ethnic and economic differences. Yet the anti-ethnic attitude and anti-modem thinking prevalent in certain segments of society lean toward a unitary or quasi-federal state as against a true federation.

The latest threat is emanating from extremism and terrorism, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA). This is the spillover effect of the conflict in Afghanistan and is spreading to Pakistan. It is likely to continue as long as there is no peace and stability in that country. However, the military enjoying the support of the nation is successfully combating the extremists and terrorists under the supremacy of the civilian democratic government. It is hoped that the process would continue to its logical conclusion.

Due to the migration of literate Hindus and Sikhs to India, the literacy rate in Pakistan sharply declined. There was about 95 percent illiteracy in Pakistan in 1947, which acted as a hindrance to the growth of civil and democratic society. Feudalism and economic constraint did not permit any Pakistani government to launch a “crash course to expand literacy and grow higher standards.

The national economy has gone bankrupt and the national budget has become all foreign aid-dependent. Islam was the ideology that gave life to the Pakistan movement and later Pakistan itself but is now infested with sectarianism. Military policies gifted the country with cross-border terrorism and three million internally displaced people. Despite having the largest chunk of the national budget and being the seventh-largest army in the world, the Pakistan army is now in a mess of its own creation with little of its hard-earned prestige left to its credit.

The distorted face of the national system as a whole and the failure of the judiciary to guard the constitution of Pakistan are the major factors contributing to the change in the national mindset. The events of the last two years have clearly shown the preference of the people of Pakistan. The masses want democracy as a political and governing system for the country and a judiciary that guard the rights of the people. The military would be respected more if it stays in the barracks or guarded the national borders. The murder of Benazir Bhutto has taught new lessons.

If one compares Pakistani democracy with Western democracy it is said that for over 50 years, Pakistan remains occupied by three major interest groups in the time, opportunities, and resources of the besieged nation. The army, civil service, and the neo-colonial appointed landlords. If there was any rational tolerance scale, the Pakistani nation would certainly secure high marks on its standard of tolerance and survival under most unfavorable circumstances.

One of the pivotal factors supporting the notion of Western liberal democracies is that it provides opportunities for participation to ordinary citizens, right or wrong to culminate a sense of legitimacy for the election exercise and chose people of their interest to manage public affairs for a specified term. But the principles and standards for evil and good vary between the West and the Islamic world . Strange as is, in Pakistan, those who come to occupy the political offices never intend to quit the political power on their own except implication of military force through a coup.

Comparatively, on occasions, western democracies do” encourage educated and competent citizens to strive for their high ideas and ideals and come to the front stage and demonstrate their intentions and will power to seek the goal of ideal public service agendas. E.H. Carr defines the teaching-learning role of history and its value must not be ignored but preserved. Recall the Pakistani military dictators for the last forty-plus years, they each consumed a decade or more to relinquish power, that was not theirs in any systematic and logical context. Ayub Khan was ousted by Yahya Khan.

General Yahya with the complacency of Z.A. Bhutto surrendered East Pakistan to India (now Bangladesh) to share power with Bhutto but was put under house arrest as Bhutto assumed the power that did not belong to him based on the verdict of the people. Rightfully, it was Sheikh MujiburRehman, leader of the East Pakistan Awami League who should have been sworn in as the new leader of united Pakistan but it was treacherously undone by Yahya and Bhutto.

Both should have been tried as traitors in a court of law and punished. Not so, they were rewarded and Bhutto became the first civilian martial law administrator and self-made president of defeated Pakistan in December 1971. Dr.Ishtiaq Qureshi, editor of the Urdu Digest recorded for the history (“Sukoot-e-Dacca seyPurdhautha Hay”- Facts are revealed after the Dacca Surrender) that “in the quest for its survival Pakistan lost its destiny. Yahya and Mujib stabbed the body of Pakistan with one dagger and Bhutto will stab Pakistan with another dagger.”

Suggestions for Democracy in Pakistan

Fo1lowing are the suggestions for improving democracy in Pakistan:

An impartial system of accountability enhances public trust in the political system. It provides enormous strength to the democratic process. Moreover, it compels thousand who are charged with governance, to transparently discharge their official responsibilities. It ensures good governance and strengthens the political setup. In spite of facing innumerable challenges and showing unsatisfactory performance, Pakistanis have the capability to emerge as a democratic and progressive nation. Pakistan can road to democracy with the dedication, determination, commitment, courage, and patriotism of its political leaders.

Reforming the judiciary and incorporating Islamic laws can also soothe the deprived and poor masses who have been manipulated by the extremists due to the sheer negligence of the elected governments and ruling elite. This natura11y causes bitterness toward the present form of political setup.

Moving on, corruption and selfish attitudes are eating away at the institutional structure of our country and such practices never allow democracy to flourish. There is also a need for mature political leadership, which can think above its own gains. All this can only emerge after the formulation and implementation of strict accountability.

On the contrary, weak public institutions can be made strong and productive if the power and authority seep down. The example of many European countries is in front of us, where institutions are powerful and not politicians. Democracy in actuality can only be achieved through such measures.

Our constitution has been a source of constant controversy. Be it the realization of Islamic laws or the concentration of power in the head of the state, the constitution has served as a tool for the legitimization of alien changes and policies. Keeping the constitution intact has been long overdue. No one in power should be allowed to change it for prolongation of rule or appeasing any particular section. The Pakistani movement envisaged a democratic country with a federal structure.

In all Constitutions of Pakistan (1956, 1962, and 1973) the objectives of governance, in the words of Dr. Ainslie T. Embree, Professor Emeritus of Columbia University, are democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance, and social justice as enunciated by Islam, giving Muslims freedom to live their lives in accordance with the teachings of Islam, but with minorities having full freedom to profess their own religions.

Islam lays emphasis on the concept of Shura, i.e., consultation among people, which is the essence of democratic culture. Quaid-i-Azam, the founder of Pakistan had stated:

“We leamed democracy 1300 years ago. Democracy is i11 our blood. It is ill our marrows. Dilly centuries of adverse circumstances have made the circulation of that blood cold. It has got frozen, and our arteries are not functioning. But thank God, the blood is circulating again, thanks to the Muslim League’s efforts. It will be a People’s government. Culturally, ill the region of Pakistan, there is a concept of Jirga or Panchayat, i.e., an assembly of elders, to settle issues and disputes involving two or more two persons. This system has, been prevalent for ages, much before the advent of Islam. Thus, both religion and age-old tradition advocate the concept of consultation in decision-making through all assembly of people, which is the essence of democracy.”

During the period of British supremacy in the subcontinent, the practice of elections to assemblies (local, provincial and central) was introduced through various enactments. Finally, it was the Government of India Act 1935 under which the dominions of India and Pakistan functioned after independence till they framed their own constitutions. These enactments provided the groundwork for democratic governance. It may be of interest to note that even when the democratic rule was suspended by the armed forces, the military rulers always came with the promise to restore democratic governance .

For instance, in 1970, General Yahya Khan is credited with organizing the first-ever general elections in the country, which led to the establishment of democratic governments both in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Besides holding general elections in 2002 and 2007, General Musharraf’s introduction of a local government system introduced in 2001 is considered a “laudable model of governance” because of its principle that whatever can be done at the local level should not be done at a higher tier of governance.

The country is on the path to achieving full literacy and progress towards a higher standard of education in important disciplines. This is strengthening the civil society in ensuring the prevalence of democratic culture at the lower and higher level of governance. Secondly, the print and electronic media in Pakistan are vibrant and independent. A responsible media educates the masses, raises political consciousness, and thus promotes democratic values, norms, and culture. In addition, a number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are playing an active role in the field of education and contributing to the growth of a vibrant civil society and good governance.

The essential step seems to stop interruption in the democratic process so that we may see more than promos. To judge something, it has to be allowed a chance to survive and act. The elected government must be allowed to complete its tenure in any case. The military has to play a positive role here and not interfere in the smooth democratic process.

As mentioned before, a part of the population wants greater Islamic character in the Govt. and laws. If we analyze this demand, it will be apparent that the enforcement of Sharia is more related to lawmaking. Therefore, what is immediately required is a change in the judicial setup, which has been unable to gain the trust of people until recently. Encouraging steps have already started in this case, but much more needs to be done.

Sadly, the same corrupted pool of thought keeps appearing with new faces and the deceived masses blindly follow them. This is due to the absence of any kind of accountability. Political compromises enhance this trend. Such practices are against moral, democratic as well as Islamic principles and should end immediately.

Next, the all-powerful bureaucracy and feudal politicians should be stripped of their unwarranted authority. It has been a slow evil that has weakened the country like nothing else. They are elected for serving people not to control them. The criteria of merit; the right to freedom and equal progress for common people have become a joke due to such an autocratic setup.

The people of Pakistan in general lack political psyche and consciousness. This is largely due to poor literacy and a never-ending feudalistic rule over 60% of the country. Therefore, it is necessary to educate the masses and make them aware of their political rights. This can begin with greater political socialization by political parties and media.

In a democratic state, media has rightly been called the fourth pillar of the state. It can play a most important role in the present age for creating awareness. Our media has risen from the ashes like a phoenix. It, however, needs to play a positive constructive role and not become another compromised institution as well.

Finally, the strategic position and now the war against terror call forth unwanted attention from the international community sometimes. In the past, military rule has been covertly or openly supported by many countries to gain their own benefits in this region. The international powers must stop interfering in the democratic process and for that to happen, our own government, people and media need to be equally strong.

Politicians may have learned lessons from their past mistakes and are more mature politically. Consensus politics seem to be emerging in the country. In the past, the constant infighting amongst political parties had often led to interference and take-over by the armed forces.

Now a culture of reconciliation, accommodation, and dialogue is emerging. The ideological polarization is diminishing. After the general elections of February 2008, four major political parties, i.e., Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), PML – Nawaz (PML-N), Awami National Party (ANP), Jamiat-ulUlema-i-Islam – Fazalur Rahman (JUI-Fl and MuttahidaQaumi Movement (MQM) have joined hands to govern the country and re-establish the supremacy of the Parliament in accordance with the Constitution of 1973.

Our youth constitute 30% of the society they are representative of a new generation. Their participation may ensure structural improvements in the national paradigm. It has been witnessed that during the Pakistan movement youth played a vital role in opinion formation and mass awareness and so is the time now. There is a need to guide our youth to take responsibility for our tomorrow.

To sum up, it is the political leadership that can ensure the permanence of democratic governance. The prospects are, however, not as dismal as sometimes portrayed. Already, the literacy rate in Pakistan has increased to more than fifty-five percent. Efforts are afoot to improve the standard of higher education. Economic growth and industrialization have given birth to a vocal urban society and middle class, which is growing. and gradually lessening the influence of the feudal class.

The vibrant electronic and print media is playing an effective role in constructive criticism of the government and in educating the masses. Elections are being held regularly, representative political leadership and political parties are getting stronger and a peaceful mode of transfer of power is becoming the norm. The bureaucracy (both civil and military), though still powerful, may retreat gradually and submit to the people’s power and will and concede to democratic governance. The democratic process is progressing and, hopefully, will be obstructed and derailed, as in the past.

Expected question about this Essay:

• Why has democracy failed in Pakistan?
• What practical measures do you suggest for strengthening democracy in Pakistan?

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Democracy of Pakistan (English Essay With Outlines in 1200 Words)

English Essay on Democracy of Pakistan For College Students Democracy of Pakistan has suffered through several setbacks and challenges, but recent developments in the country have sparked a sense of optimism for change in the future.

Pakistan is a vibrant and resilient country. Democracy, despite its many flaws, has brought a lot of changes to the society and it is the only option for Pakistan. There are many positive changes being brought by democracy but one of the most significant problems is the lack of political awareness.

Pakistan is one of the largest Muslim countries in the world, but has recently faced serious internal issues and political instability. This essay explores the history of democracy in Pakistan and the challenges it faces.

Table of Contents

What is Democracy?

Democracy is the political system in which the people have the power to choose their own leaders.

Types of Democracy

Democracy is a system of government in which the people are sovereign, that is to say they have the power to rule. It is usually assumed that all modern democracies are liberal democracies. This is true in the sense that most democracies claim to be liberal and many are in fact liberal in their practice. However, there are a number of different types of democracy. Some of these are more liberal than others, and some are more authoritarian than others.

Pros & Cons of Democracy

There are many pros and cons to democracy. On the positive side, it allows for a high degree of public participation in government, which can lead to better policy decisions. Additionally, democracies often have low levels of corruption, because elected officials are held accountable by their constituents.

However, democracies also have their fair share of problems. For example, they can be more volatile and prone to political instability than other types of governments. And while they may offer citizens a greater level of freedom and civil rights than some other systems, they can also be less efficient in delivering these benefits.

Democracy Vs Dictatorship

Democracy is a system of government where citizens have the power to make decisions about their own lives. This system is based on the principle that all people have the right to participate in the political process and have their voices heard.

Dictatorship is a system of government in which one person or group has total control over all aspects of society. This system is based on the principle that one person or group can be trusted to protect the interests of the population and make wise decisions for them.

Democracy of Pakistan

The current form of democracy in Pakistan is a parliamentary democracy. The Parliament is bicameral and consists of the Senate and the National Assembly. The Senate is made up of 100 members, who are elected for six-year terms.

The Prime Minister is the head of government and is appointed by the National Assembly. The Cabinet is the executive branch of the government and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the country. The judiciary is independent and consists of the Supreme Court, High Courts, and District Courts.  The head of the executive branch is the President.

According to the theory, democracy in Pakistan consists of three layers of government: federal, provincial and local. The central layer is represented by the federal government, while the provincial governments are the regional counterparts. The local governments are the last layer, and represent the community or the people.

Challenges For Democracy in Pakistan

Democracy of Pakistan in facing following challenges;

1. How can the government protect the rights of its citizens and ensure that they are able to express their views freely?

2. How can the government ensure that all eligible citizens can participate in the political process and have their voices heard?

The government can try to ensure that all eligible citizens can participate in the political process by providing information about the relevant candidates and the voting process. Additionally, the government can try to create a conducive environment in which citizens can freely express their views.

History of Democracy of Pakistan

Pakistan is one of the most diverse countries in the world, with a population that spans all social and economic strata. The country’s complex history has led to a variety of political systems and ideologies. Democracy has been an official policy of the government since 1973, but prior to that, various forms of government had operated in Pakistan. The first democratic system was established during the British Raj, when elected representatives from each province convened a legislative assembly to draft a constitution. However, this assembly was dissolved by the British authorities just four years after its establishment. The second attempt at establishing democracy took place following independence in 1947. However, due to disagreements between Prime Ministers and Presidents, democracy was not fully established until 1973. Since then, successive governments have enacted various constitutional amendments to expand the rights of citizens and form a more democratic system. Pakistan has a long and tumultuous history of democracy. The first democratic elections in the country were held in 1979. However, the country has had a number of periods of military rule, which have been followed by periods of democracy.

Future of Democracy in Pakistan

Pakistani democracy is in a state of flux. The country has been through multiple transitions, including from military dictatorship to parliamentary democracy and then to an elected civilian government in 2008. However, the country faces several challenges that could undermine its future as a democracy.

The most pressing issue facing Pakistani democracy is the lack of trust in institutions. According to a 2018 poll by the Pew Research Center, only 22 percent of Pakistanis say they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in the government to do what is right, down from 53 percent in 2006. This dwindling trust is likely due to years of instability and corruption – both within institutions and among politicians – which has led to disillusionment among citizens. To make matters worse, this lack of faith has created an environment where extremist groups can thrive.

Despite these challenges, Pakistani democracy is still in relatively good shape overall. The current government – which was elected in 2018 after years of political instability and corruption – is considered to be relatively stable, and there have been no major crises or violence linked to the democratic process so far. In addition, the country’s judiciary is considered to be independent and effective, which helps to ensure that the rule of law is upheld.

Key Features of Democracy of Pakistan

1. The Constitution of Pakistan was adopted in 1956.

2. Pakistan is a federal parliamentary republic.

3. The Head of State is the President, who is elected by the Parliament for a five-year term.

4. The Supreme Court is the highest judicial body in Pakistan.

5. There are three branches of government: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial.

Final Thoughts on Democracy in Pakistan

In short although Pakistan is a democratic country, still democracy is in cradle here in Pakistan. Now a days there is a controlled democracy in Pakistan. Deep state is very strong in Pakistan. Concept of hybrid democracy, basic democracy, and non parties democracy were introduced in Pakistan. Creation of Pakistan was a result of democratic process, but as a nation we could never defend democracy of Pakistan . There is need of strengthening the democracy in Pakistan.

My Aim in Life

I am a professional content writer and have experience of 10 years. I also launched first ever English monthly magazine of human rights in Pakistan. Majority of content on this website is written by me.

Democracy in Pakistan: Of the elite, for the elite, by the elite

One of the most perplexing debates around is on the subject of democracy, where it is easy to confuse concept with practice, form with substance and illusion with reality.

There is another problem. Countries at varying stages of democratic evolution are all called a democracy, which adds to the confusion, as we, in our mind, expect all these models to be equally responsive in meeting the needs of society. That makes us tolerate and endure a system that is not quite democratic and may never become so.

In Pakistan, democracy remains both illusive and elusive. What we have is something that looks like democracy, but does not work like one. Democracy is a dynamic, not static, process but Pakistan’s “democracy” is stuck.

If any “good” has come out of the current crisis, it is hopefully the realisation that the conventional wisdom that Pakistan’s problems are due to a lack of civilian supremacy, or because the “democratic system” has faced repeated interruptions by the military rule, or that elected governments have not been allowed to complete their full term may not be quite true.

Has the current crisis — and the way politicians’ brazen preoccupation with the struggle for power is ripping the country apart while it burns — left any doubt that the “democracy” we have has been part of the problem, not the solution? In fact, it is this very “democracy” that has provided legitimacy to bad governance, produced weak governments opposed to reforms for fear of losing elections, and has kept recycling. Above all, it has lacked substance.

Form and substance

True democracy has both form and substance. The form manifests itself in electoral democracy, sustained by a process of free and fair elections, and peaceful and orderly change of governments. But the form must embody good governance to empower people, and it can do so only by resting on free and representative institutions, constitutional liberalism or any other value-based system, strong rule of law, and a just and equitable social order. That is the substance. Without substance, democracy remains hollow. It has no soul.

The intelligentsia in Pakistan, especially the liberal/secularist segment, is most passionate about the Western liberal model focusing on freedom of choice, free speech, civil liberties, independent judiciary, and of course elections.

Much of this class lives emotionally disconnected from the rest of the population and their harsh challenges of survival and means to cope with them. It feels that all you need is elections, free media, independent judiciary, and the Constitution.

Voila! You have democracy — and it will take care of the nation’s problems, including those of the poor.

Democracy and progress

The secular/liberal class as a whole, and Western-oriented sections of it in particular, are right in seeing a causal connection between democracy and progress in advanced industrialised countries. They are, therefore, justified in emulating a similar democratic political system and having high expectations from it.

Where they are at fault is that they do not grasp the full picture. Most of them forget that democracy, which ostensibly brought progress in the West, was more than a political system. It was also a society’s organising idea, whose substance was equality of opportunity, fairness, rule of law, accountability, safeguarding of basic human rights and freedoms, gender equality and protection of minorities.

In sum, democracy’s core idea was humanism. And the whole objective of giving people the right to choose who will govern them on their behalf was to ensure the implementation of this very ideal.

Otherwise, what is the purpose of self governance? Given the chance to self govern, would people like to bring themselves to grief with their own policies? Certainly this was not the intent.

Unless a nation shows this fundamental understanding of democracy and takes steps to put itself on the road to democracy, it will never get there. It will keep moving in circles or going backwards.

The poor cannot ‘feed’ on democracy

For much of the liberal class in Pakistan, especially its more affluent stratum, the form is the substance. It looks at democracy as simply black and white — there can be no gradation.

The fact is that Pakistan is, and is not, democratic.

Pakistan’s “democracy” is advanced enough to satisfy the liberals’ love of liberty and enjoyment of certain human freedoms, but regressed enough to be exploited by the elite for their purposes at the expense of the people.

In her book, ‘Thieves of State’ , Sarah Chayes focuses on corruption in Afghanistan. Sarah, who spent a decade in Kandahar, concludes that the concerns of most people did not have much to do with democracy. Pakistan is, of course, no Afghanistan but the book has a message that applies here as well.

Democracy is no doubt the best form of government but go and ask the masses in societies that are grappling with serious state and nation-building challenges what is most important in their lives. What is important for them, they will tell you, is social and economic justice, human security and dignity and the hope for a better future. And they will like any government that provides this kind of life.

A USAID official once asked me what the people of Pakistan want. Development or democracy? Prompt came my reply — if democracy brings development, they want democracy; if it does not, they want development.

Basically, you need a democracy that satisfies the human aspirations for freedom as well as improves the quality of life for citizens at large.

Freedoms are meaningless if they do not provide for the whole society’s welfare and progress.

Pakistan’s ‘democracy’ a political tool for power

In Pakistan’s case, “democracy” is just a political tool for the dominant social groups to maintain their wealth and status. The other instrument is military rule.

But the beneficiaries are roughly the same in both models — the whole panoply of power comprising the top tier of politicians, bureaucrats, the military and judiciary, “business folk and the landed”, who among them monopolise the country’s economic resources.

The civil and military leaderships may compete for power, but eventually cooperate to maintain the status quo. Both use each other — the military using the failure of the politicians as a pretext to come to power or to dominate it, and politicians using the alibi of military interruption or dominance for their own failure. They are allies as well as rivals.

In Why Nations Fail , Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson trace the evolution of political and economic institutions around the globe and argue that nations are not destined to succeed or fail due to geography or culture, but because of the emergence of extractive or inclusive institutions within them.

They write:

“Extractive political institutions concentrate power in the hands of a narrow elite and place few constraints on the exercise of this power. Economic institutions are then often structured by this elite to extract resources from the rest of the society. Extractive economic institutions thus naturally accompany extractive political institutions. In fact, they must inherently depend on extractive political institutions for their survival … political institutions enable elites controlling political power to choose economic institutions with few constraints of opposing forces. They also enable the elites to structure future political institutions and their evolution.”

In light of their thesis, we can see how powerful groups or institutions have long dominated Pakistan’s body politic by taking advantage of its security issues, place of religion in its national makeup and its feudal social structure. The political system that emerges from this body politic is designed to empower only the powerful and privileged and does little to foster the rule of law.

Musical chairs

Civilians and the military have taken turns to rule Pakistan, but the system, arguably, has remained the same, ‘unscathed’ by democracy. There was no fear of accountability, and no obstacle to electability. They did not need the people, so they did very little for them. And neither of them faced the full wrath of the public as each deflected the blame on to the other.

When the cost of maintaining a “democracy” led by civilians would become unbearable, we would tolerate the army’s intervention to help us get rid of them. But instead of returning to the barracks, the military would stay on. Then we’d long for democracy, which would let us down yet again. The fact is that no institution is solely responsible for democracy’s misfortunes in Pakistan. They all provided opportunity to each other to come to power and supported the system.

In the civilian edition that now comprises the ruling coalition, politicians may be divided into political parties but are united by the elites. Henceforth, whichever party comes to power when the ongoing bloody struggle for power is over, it will likely be no different from others in being invested in the system. It may disrupt the system, but will not threaten it.

Liberty and order

Even if Pakistan had a fully functional Western liberal democracy, it was not going to solve the country’s fundamental challenges. The fact is the Western liberal democratic model has become too competitive. In their book, ‘Intelligent Governance for the 21st Century’ , Nicolas Berggruen and Nathan Gardels challenge the view that the liberal democratic model is intrinsic to good governance. Examining this in relation to widely varying political and cultural contexts, especially the Chinese system, the authors advocate a mix of order and liberty.

When asked once on the Charlie Rose Show what he thought of Western democracy, Lee Kuan Yew — the inaugural prime minister of Singapore — replied that the system had become so competitive and combative that in order to come to power, the opposition spent all its time planning to undermine the incumbent government by misrepresenting or distorting issues and thus misleading the public. “It would be a sad day when this kind of democracy comes to Singapore,” he said.

In his classic, The Future of Freedom , Fareed Zakaria states that Singapore follows its own brand of liberal constitutionalism, where there are limits on political freedoms — and it happens to be one of the most self-content countries in the world.

It boggles one’s mind that we in Pakistan tolerate the civil-military led political and governance structure, which is rigged in favour of the elite, while using the full freedom of a democratic system to play the game of politics at people’s expense. We put up with it as if this behaviour is an acceptable price to be a “democracy”, which incidentally does not quite happen to be a democracy. Indeed, there are institutions that one finds in a democratic system, but they lack autonomy and integrity. They have failed in the moral strength to serve the people, but not in the capacity to sustain the system.

You can see how millions of good Pakistanis are glued to TV or their phones every day following the comings and goings of politicians as if they were going to solve the country’s problems. We forget that their fights are about themselves, among themselves.

Democratisation is a revolutionary struggle

You cannot change what you do not know. The creation of a true democracy is a revolutionary struggle. And it must begin with the realisation that the “democracy” we have will not solve our problems regardless of who is in power. We cannot also bank on this “democracy” to become democracy by itself.

Countries change not because they have become democratic. They become democratic because they have changed. In many ways, democratisation is a painstaking struggle, indistinguishable from state and nation-building. Progressive movements and the civil rights campaign in America, political and social movements in Europe and the Meiji Restoration in Japan are a few such instances.

How will this change occur in Pakistan?

That is the subject of a much wider and complex debate. Briefly, one can say the following: Pakistan has enormous strengths — remarkable resilience, faith-based optimism, a sense of exceptionalism, a vibrant media and a promising civil society.

There is enormous talent available within the country — academics, journalists, authors (many of them internationally acclaimed), political activists, retired public servants — both civil and military — who all have shown extraordinary knowledge and commitment to Pakistan. They can inspire and mobilise the young generation yearning for true change that could provide stimulus and critical mass for social movements.

I am not advocating for military rule or a technocratic government. Let the current political process for all its flaws continue. It cannot or should not be overthrown but can be undermined over time.

That will be the purpose of social movements — to remove the obstacles to a genuine democracy in Pakistan. These include a misplaced focus on faith that has fostered extremism and hindered openness and tolerance, and a feudal dominance that has inhibited education, gender equality, openness to modern ideas and a credible political process.

Not to mention the military’s pre-eminence that has led to the dominance of security over development. The latter has skewed national priorities and resource allocation. All this is hardly a life-supporting environment for democracy.

Can Pakistan truly become democratic? Yes, it can. Whether it will remains to be seen.

Header image: Shutterstock

The writer, a former Ambassador, is adjunct professor at Georgetown University and Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore

Democracy and dystopia

Absent democracy

Don’t disrupt democracy

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Democracy in Pakistan: Elections tell us why politicians behave badly

Subscribe to global connection, madiha afzal madiha afzal fellow - foreign policy , center for middle east policy , strobe talbott center for security, strategy, and technology @madihaafzal.

August 15, 2017

Madiha Afzal writes that regime instability and incumbency disadvantage may explain the corrupt behavior of politicians in Pakistan. This piece originally appeared on VoxDev on August 14, 2017.

As with most modern nations, the story of Pakistan’s inception has dictated the very specific course of its politics. The two elements that characterize Pakistani politics today—the dominance of its military and the weakness of its major parties—can be traced back to the nature of its partition from India.

The Muslim League movement that led to Pakistan based the idea of partition on the two-nation theory. The theory asserted that Hindus and Muslims were two nations, and could not live with each other in a democratic, united India. But it was a political fallout—the recognition by the leaders of the League that the interests of Muslims could not be represented adequately as a minority in a united India—that led to this theory. 

At partition, Pakistan felt short-changed by the British and the Hindus. It was left under resourced and smaller than it had planned. It considered itself vulnerable, given that its western and eastern parts lay to either side of India. In its bid to define itself after 1947, it chose the threat it felt from India as a key pillar. This has led to its military being the most dominant institution in the country.

Democracy in Pakistan: Corruption and public opinion

Pakistan’s military has been consistently responsible for destabilizing democracy. Each of Pakistan’s democratic governments between 1988 and 1999 was ousted after a couple of years in power, thrice with the President dissolving the government (since then this presidential power, bestowed by a military regime, has been removed) and once through a military coup in 1999. Crucial to each turnover, it seemed, was public opinion turning against the incumbent political party. The charges against the ruling party each time were corruption and misgovernance, but they were never fully prosecuted.

Popular opinion in Pakistan has oscillated between the military and democracy: after several years of each kind of regime, due to unmet expectations or perceived failures, public opinion has tended to tire of it and to turn back to the other. But after Musharraf’s failed regime that ended in 2008, Pakistan appeared to have made a more solid shift to democracy. In a June 2016 Gallup poll, 84 percent of respondents said they preferred democracy to dictatorship. Yet Sharif’s disqualification last month by the Supreme Court after a month-long hearing on his unexplained assets leaked by the Panama Papers, was in part a response to the conviction in popular opinion that he was corrupt (the military, on the other hand, continues to be considered non-corrupt and efficient).

Conventional wisdom: Dynasticism and patronage

This brings us to a set of conventional wisdoms that circulate in Pakistan’s democracy within the country, and that drive public opinion of it: that politicians are entrenched, dynastic, feudal, and corrupt; that they engage in patronage. This involves providing jobs and favors to constituents in return for votes. The idea is that constituents vote in blocs of  biradiri  (loosely, clan and caste ties) that can be ‘bought’ by such patronage.

Elections in Pakistan: What the evidence tells us

It is worth looking at what the empirical evidence on Pakistan’s democracy tells us, if anything, about these wisdoms. At first glance, it looks like there is a great deal of competition in Pakistan’s elections. A total of 333 parties are currently registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan. But just six parties hold more than ten seats in Parliament (out of a total of 342 seats), and eighteen parties hold one seat or more.

Two parties are dominant: power has oscillated between the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in every successive term between 1988 and 1999, and again since 2008. Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf emerged as the third largest party in the 2013 election.

Dynasticism

Cheema et al. (2013) have studied dynastic politicians—who they define as “electoral candidates who had multiple family members contesting national or provincial elections between 1970 and 2008”—in Punjab, Pakistan’s largest province (it holds 148 out of the 272 directly elected seats in parliament). They found that while it is true that Punjab is dominated by dynastic politicians—approximately two-thirds of the elected legislators in the national assembly elections in Punjab between 1985 and 2008 were dynastic—this is only part of the story. The authors also found a healthy dose of competition between two dynastic contenders for the same seat. But of races that involved a contest between dynastic and non-dynastic contenders (approximately 50 percent of all races between 1985 and 2008), they did find that the dynastic contenders won two-thirds of the time.

Even so, the authors dispelled the notion that dynasticism is primarily based on land ownership or feudal power; it is also based on capital and industry. They found that dynasticism is a more rural than urban phenomenon; suggesting that increasing urbanization and the redistricting that will follow Pakistan’s latest census are bound to reduce the influence of dynastic politicians. In my view, this will also reduce the influence of patronage, which is more complex in an urban setup.

Dynasticism suggests a kind of candidate fungibility—that candidates are powerful in and of themselves, beyond their parties. It is thus associated with the common Pakistani practice of horse-trading, or switching parties. Horse-trading occurs most often when politicians perceive their party as losing power in the next election. This practice also coincides with military takeovers, which often try to weaken the major political parties via restrictive electoral rules. Many politicians switched parties when the military dictator, General Musharraf, created the Pakistan Muslim League—Quaid, often called ‘the king’s party’, before the 2002 election, after disqualifying the leaders of both the PPP and PML-N from running for election. 

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Musharraf’s electoral rule and 2002 political competition

I tested how another electoral rule imposed by Musharraf before the 2002 election impacted political competition in Pakistan. This rule involved an unprecedented ballot access restriction—a bachelor’s degree requirement for legislators, which disqualified 60 out of 2017 incumbent legislators from running for re-election. In separate papers, Cheema et al. and I have documented that family members took the place of legislators who were disqualified. In my research (Afzal 2014), I found that political competition declined significantly in constituencies where the disqualified incumbent belonged to a small party and where literacy levels were lower (signifying a smaller pool of substitute candidates).

Surprisingly, competition increased in some constituencies—specifically, where the disqualified incumbent was stronger in terms of his winning vote margin, suggesting that loosening the hold of stronger politicians can infuse new vigor into elections (although disqualification of incumbents is not the way to go about instituting this change).

Incumbency disadvantage

In separate work (Afzal 2013), I have documented a causal incumbency disadvantage at the constituency level in Pakistan (thus beyond the macro level, where there is a clear disadvantage, with power switching between Pakistan’s two major parties). Using a technique known as regression discontinuity—essentially comparing a candidate who barely won an election to one who barely lost an election, the idea being that they are similar on other dimensions—I found that on average, candidates who barely won an election were between 13 percent and 16 percent less likely to win the next time than candidates who barely lost, for the four elections between 1988 and 1997.

Importantly, I also found that this incumbency disadvantage was limited to those incumbent legislators who belonged to the party in power at the center, or the majority party. This implies that voters specifically punish legislators who belong to the party in power at the center, perhaps because they consider them complicit in the corrupt activities of the federal government or other failures associated with it. Instead of the typical incumbency advantage, as in the U.S. context which allows incumbents to reveal their competence, in Pakistan, incumbents seem to reveal their failures and their corruption by virtue of being in power.

Dynasticism, incumbency disadvantage, and weakened democracy

What are the implications of dynasticism and incumbency disadvantage? Cheema et al. suggest that dynastic politicians place less emphasis on programmatic or policy preferences, and more on personal benefit. In my work, I have argued that incumbency disadvantage and instability can both lead to extractive behavior. Pakistanis would do well to understand this. When politicians face an uncertain time horizon and the prospect of almost certainly being booted out of office, their behavior suffers. They are less inclined to put in place policies that benefit their constituents in the long term, and extract for personal benefit and to benefit only some constituents in terms of patronage. That yet another prime minister has been booted out of power before completing his term in Pakistan this year suggests that the cycle of badly performing politicians, and weak democratic regimes, will continue.

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Essay on Democracy in Pakistan with Quotation

• December 19, 2023

Kainat Shakeel

Democracy in Pakistan has been a system of government that has faced multitudinous challenges and lapses since the country’s commencement in 1947. It’s defined as the” government of the people, by the people, and for the people”. The adult citizens of Pakistan have the right to vote for their favorite candidate, contest in elections, join any party, and form their party. Still, democracy in Pakistan has been hindered by various factors, including corruption, bad governance, institutional imbalance, and the low living norms of the people. 

 “Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people.” (Abraham Lincoln)

Expectations for democracy in pakistan:.

There are opportunities and hurdles for democracy in Pakistan. Some of the positive aspects of democracy in the country include the smooth transfer of powers by popular parties, enhancement in the performance of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), and mindfulness among the people regarding mercenary rule. These factors have created a stopgap for democracy in Pakistan.

 “Dictatorships are one-way streets. Democracy boasts two-way traffic.”

Hurdles for democracy in pakistan:.

Despite the positive aspects, democracy in Pakistan has faced several hurdles. These include the circular hindrance of the service in popular governments, the feudal lord’s system, and corruption of popular leaders, the intimidating ignorance rate, and poor frugality. These factors have made it difficult for the republic to flourish in Pakistan. 

“Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.”

Key features of democracy:.

The crucial features of democracy in Pakistan include the;

• Electoral System: Pakistan follows an electoral system where adult citizens have the right to vote for their favorite applicant, contest in choices, join any party, and form their own party. 
• Separation of Powers: The separation of powers is one of the crucial features of the republic in Pakistan, with the superintendent, legislative, and judicial branches performing singly to help the attention of power. 
• Checks and Balances: Democracy in Pakistan incorporates checks and balances to ensure that no single branch of government becomes too important, maintaining a balance of power and precluding abuses.
• Multi-party System: Pakistan has a multi-party system, allowing for different political parties to contend in choices and represent the interests of different parts of society. 
• Independent Judiciary: An independent judicatory is a pivotal aspect of democracy in Pakistan, assuring that the rule of law prevails and guarding the rights of citizens. 
• Freedom of Expression: Democracy in Pakistan guarantees freedom of expression, allowing individuals to express their opinions and ideas without fear of persecution or suppression.
• Protection of nonages: The Republic in Pakistan promotes the protection of nonage rights, assuring that all citizens are treated with equivalency and fairness.

Despite these crucial features, democracy in Pakistan has faced multitudinous challenges, including corruption, bad governance, institutional imbalance, and low living norms of the people. To strengthen democracy in Pakistan, it’s essential to address these challenges and make on the positive aspects of the country’s popular system. 

“If you want to raise a crop for one year, plant corn. If you want to raise a crop for decades, plant trees. If you want to raise a crop for centuries, raise men. If you want to plant a crop for eternities, raise democracies.”(Shirin Ebadi)

Main challenges to democracy:.

The main challenges to democracy in Pakistan include the;

• Lack of timely, free, and fair choices: Pakistan has faced issues with conducting timely, free, and fair choices, which are essential for a performing democracy. 
• The gap between the political elite and the public: there’s a significant gap between the political nobility and the general public, making it delicate for politicians to address the enterprises and requirements of their ingredients. 
• Martial laws and civil-military relations: The use of martial laws and pressures between civil and military establishments have challenged the stability and functioning of democracy in Pakistan. 
• Lack of education and mindfulness: A lack of education and political mindfulness among the population has made it difficult for the republic to thrive in Pakistan. 
• Feudal Lords System: The influence of feudal lords in Pakistan has been a chain for democracy, as they frequently ply control over political authorities and opinions. 
• Corruption: Corruption among popular leaders has undermined the credibility and effectiveness of democracy in Pakistan. 
• Economic challenges: Pakistan’s floundering frugality and low living norms have made it delicate for the republic to flourish, as people prioritize introductory requirements over political participation. 
• Politicized corruption trials and repression of dissent: The government has targeted opposition leaders in politicized corruption trials, and security forces have cracked down on differing voices, further eroding the foundations of the republic in Pakistan. 

Addressing these challenges is pivotal for the survival and growth of democracy in Pakistan. By diving issues similar to electoral reforms, perfecting political leadership, and promoting clearness and responsibility, Pakistan can work towards strengthening its popular institutions and assuring a stable and prosperous future for its citizens.

Kainat Shakeel is a versatile Content Writer Head and Digital Marketer with a keen understanding of tech news, digital market trends, fashion, technology, laws, and regulations. As a storyteller in the digital realm, she weaves narratives that bridge the gap between technology and human experiences. With a passion for staying at the forefront of industry trends, her blog is a curated space where the worlds of fashion, tech, and legal landscapes converge.

Democracy in Pakistan Essay with Quotations

Democracy in pakistan essay with quotations for fsc, class 10, class 12 and graduation.

This post contains an Essay on Democracy in Pakistan with Quotations for FSC, Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation. However, students of 2nd year can especially prepare this Democracy in Pakistan Essay. Some quotes are also available at the appropriate places in it. This is a sample essay taken from local notes. If you are a student in Pakistan, you can write this essay simply under the title essay on democracy, democracy essay, democracy in Pakistan essay and essay on Democracy in Pakistan. You will find more essays in Essays in English .

Essay on Democracy in Pakistan with Quotes for 2nd Year, B.A and BSC Students

“Democracy is the government of the people, for the people and by the people.” (Abraham Lincoln)

Representative democracy involves the sele3ction of government officials by the people being represented. The most common systems involve the election of the candidates with a majority vote.

Pakistan is a democratic and Islamic country, but democracy in Pakistan has been the most irregular and unsatisfactory. The principles of democracy are equality, freedom and social justice which are, unfortunately, not being fully enjoyed by the people of Pakistan. The reason is that the dictators never allow the principles of democracy to flourish in our country.

“When people fear the government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty”

The existence of feudal system controls the lives of millions of villagers and farmers. They are in the majority in the country, but they do not enjoy even the rights of the minority. The uneducated people will continue the vote for their lords and they will always remain illiterate, backward and down-trodden. The members of our elected national and provincial assemblies are big guns. Their own benefits keep the country backwards. The big industrialists also jump into politics to share the political and commercial benefits with their “jagirdaar” brothers. These “jagirdaars” and industrialists have always joined hands with the military dictators. The result is that Pakistan has a history of martial-laws and dictatorial democracies.

Our top political leaders, ministers, chief ministers, prime ministers and presidents have been coming from upper classes. They do not understand layman’s problems because they do not have the required ability and vision.  They are responsible for martial-laws. Democracy cannot flourish in the country in the absence of suitable leaders. Selfish leaders destroy the process of democracy and keep the country poor and backward.

“Be not overcome by evil but overcome evil by good.” (Romans)

The rise in terrorism, the growth of provincialism and sectarianism, population explosion and bad economic policies have also damaged democracy. For the last sixty years, there have been dictatorial governments in Pakistan which have led the country to irreparable losses. Every ruler promised to redress the grievances and miseries of the common people of Pakistan but always proved to be oppressor, tyrant, and destroyer of the country. The opposing forces are still working hard to sabotage the democratic process. We need another Quaid-e-Azam to free us from the mental slavery and put the country back on the track of true democracy, progress and prosperity.

In a democracy, the poor will have more power than the rich, because there are more of them, and the will of the majority is supreme.”  (Aristotle)

Democracy did not fail in Pakistan because of illiteracy or caste or ethnic differences or any of the other reasons put forward. The real reason is the ideology; Pakistan is wedded to. Sadly this is true of any Islamic country. The current argument can be finished on these words of “ Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve” . (G.B.Shaw)

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Changing regional dynamics and pakistan, aurat azadi march: they should fight for equity not equality, why pakistan can’t recognize israel, has pakistan shifted its foreign policy from geo-politics to geo-economics, democracy in pakistan: hopes and hurdles.

Successive events and activities have taken place that make it crystal clear that there are hopes as well as hurdles in the way of democracy in Pakistan. One the one hand, the imposition of martial law by the military has become a distant dream now. Democratic leaders have turned mature. The democratic governments have not only shown distinguish performance, but also smoothly transferred power to another government as per election results for the first time in the history of Pakistan. The ECP has also improved its performance and the citizens have become aware of their rights to rule. These all events have created hopes for the democracy in Pakistan. One the other hand, indirect military interference in the democratic governments, feudal lord system, corruption of democratic leaders, poor literacy rate and ailing economy of the country, these all events act as hurdles in the way of democracy in Pakistan. Thus, it is established that the democracy in Pakistan encounters both hopes and hurdles.

Since the creation of Pakistan in 1947, democracy in the country has been witnessing both hopes and hurdles. The founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was keen to introduce democratic system in Pakistan. However, his sudden death impeded its proper imposition. Liaquat Ali Khan, afterward, carried the vision of Jinnah, but he also failed to give it a practical shape. Imposition of martial law by dictator Ayub khan closed all the door of democracy. Zulifqar ali Bhuttto appeared on the political screen and injected a new blood of hope for democracy in Pakistan. He pressurized General Yahya to hold elections. Consequently, he won the elections with a great margin in the West Pakistan and took an oath as the first democratic leader of the country. However, the hope could not sustained for a long time as General Zia imposed martial law and blocked the road of democratic progress. After Zia, democracy was seen, but it remained fragile and weak and gave green signal to another dictator General Pervez Musharraf, who ruled till 2008. After Musharraf, the democracy in Pakistan has been witnessing good days because it continues till today without any hurdle. Hence, Democracy in Pakistan witnessed both hopes and hurdles in Past.

A major hope for democracy in Pakistan lies in the fact the military will not come forward to impose its direct rule by dismantling the democratic system, as it did in past, because of two major reasons:  Firstly, the military government is not recognized by the international community and is subject to various economic sanctions. Pakistan, is currently in the process of development because of the initiation of CPEC, cannot afford sanctions at this critical stage. Our sensible and well-trained army knows this fact very well. Secondly, martial law is often imposed under the patronage of a super power. At present, Pakistan’s relations with the USA remain abysmal. Therefore, the army will avoid taking rein of the government directly. As such, martial law is now obsolete and the democratic government will continue to rule Pakistan.

Another hope for democracy in Pakistan is created in the form of maturity among the democratic leaders. In past, one Democratic Party conspired against another ruling party and stalled democratic progress.  For example, Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) staged protest against Zulifqar Ali Bhutto after 1977 general elections claiming the elections being rigged. The issue could have been resolved through political settlement, but they demanded the removal of Bhutto and imposition of Islamic rule. Consequently, the military got an opportunity to impose martial law under Zia in 1977 and obstructed the path of democracy. Besides, Nawaz Sharif, while Chief Minister of Punjab, created problems for Benazir Bhutto and tried hard to remove her government. Similarly, Benazir Bhutto played a role to remove Nawaz Sharif in 1993. The both democratic leader celebrated ouster of each other from the government and distributed sweets among their supporters. At present, the democratic leaders avoid taking such actions that could impede the democratic progress. For example, during 2008 PPP government, Nawaz Sharif was engaged in verbal war with Zardari, but did not stage protest to remove him. On the other hand, Zardari got an opportunity to remove Nawaz government during Imran Khan continuous protest in Islamabad. However, he realized that it would play in the hand of anti-democratic elements. Thus, the democratic leaders have now turned mature and avoiding taking any step that could harm the civilian rule.

The good performance of successive democratic governments has also contributed towards the well being of the democracy in Pakistan. The democratic governments are heading towards betterment. For instance, the existing government is better than previous government and the upcoming will have undergone even more improvement. The democratic government of Pakistan Peoples Party, from 2008 to 2013, faced numerous challenges of extremism and terrorism. However, the next democratic government under Nawaz Sharif successfully resolved those challenges and brought peace. The existing government under PTI is facing daunting economic challenges but is taking stringent measures to overcome them. Thus, the better performance of the governments has proved that fact that civilian can also run the country effectively and has left no room for the army to interfere in the administration directly.

The smooth transfer of power by two democratic parties to another one has enhanced the chances of democracy to flourish in the country too. For the first time in the history of Pakistan, two democratic parties have completed and transferred their power to the third one. It has created a proper line for power transfer in the future, which is fundamental pre-requisite for the glory of democracy in any country. Before, it was witnessed that the transfer was not smooth and created room for the anti-democratic elements. For instance, as mentioned above, had the democratic leader, after the elections of 1977, not created problems for power transfer, the military would have not imposed martial law. It was because of non-agreement on the transfer of power in past, democracy could not survive for a long time. Thus, the smooth transfer of power, now, will ensure the continuation of democracy in Pakistan.

The reform in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and its improved performance is another ingredient that creates a hope for democracy in Pakistan. At present, the prime minister with the consultation of leader of opposition appoints the chief election commissioner. The ruling government cannot appoint its own commissioner to get the election rigged. Besides, a proper mechanism for the appointment of the members has also been devised to ensure the transparent elections. It can be proved from the recent appointment of the two members of the ECP. In 2019, the two vacant seats of the members of the ECP could not been filled since eight months despite the constitutional provision for filling the seats in 45 days. It was because the federal government under Imran Khan and opposition could not reach a consensus on the names. In a surprise move, the government appointed the members without consultation, but the chief election commissioner refused to administer the oath of office to these appointees and claimed that the appointment was not based in accordance with the provision of constitution. Thus, it is reached that the reforms in the ECP is playing a vital role in promoting the democracy by conducting smooth and transparent elections.

The citizen of Pakistan have, now, turned aware about their rights to rule the country and it is a good sign for the development of democracy. Before, many citizens welcomed the dictator because the democratic leaders failed to improve their lifestyle. However, the people in uniform could not satisfy their needs as well. As a result, they have turned against dictators too. At present, almost all the citizens speak against the martial law and blame the military for their present poor conditions. Now, instead of welcoming their rule, they will stand against them in the same way the people of turkey blocked the prospects of military rule by lying before the tanks. Thus, the local citizen, now, loathes martial law and it is a good for the prosperity of democracy in the country.

A major hurdle, of course, is the indirect interference of the military in the democratic government. The military not only frame foreign policy of Pakistan, but also implement it. The civilian has no say in the policies towards India, Afghanistan and the US. Besides, the head of Intelligence bureau or other sensitive institutions like defense is always retired military officer. It means that the civilians are not trusted with the sensitive policies. Currently, many retired military officers are occupying some important posts. For instance, the federal Interior minister is Ijaz Ahmed Shah. He is a former head of Intelligence bureau and a retired army officer. Besides, Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa is serving as the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting. He is retired Pakistani three-star general. Thus, the indirect rule of the military does not bode well for the democracy in Pakistan.

The feudal lord system is acting as the stumbling rock in the way of democracy in Pakistan. Democracy relies on the votes of the local citizens. However, in Pakistan, some feudal lords enjoy full control over the authority and decisions of people in their respective areas. Normally, these feudal lords own thousands of acres agriculture lands and almost all the people living in the villages act as their farmers. These people rely on them economically. It is, therefore, during elections, they vote only a candidate told by their feudal lords. They do not act on their own interest, but over the command of their superiors. In many cases, these feudal lords contest elections themselves. Consequently, they win the elections no matter how corrupt they are and from which political party they contest. Thus, the system of feudal lord is the basic hurdle in the way of democracy in Pakistan.

The fact that, almost all the democratic leaders are corrupt, also contributes to the fragility of the democracy in Pakistan. They mostly work for the wider self-interest rather than the interest of the country and its citizens after being elected. They also favor the non-transparent appointment of the government servants to fill the institutions with their own people. Besides, they use the public funds for their personal expenditure and deem it below their dignity to not make piles of illegal money. They use the same money to win the elections. It was proved by the recent accountability campaign of PM Imran Khan. Under his drive, the main leaders of the two main democratic parties were arrested on the account of corruptions. The panama leaks also revealed some names of the democratic leaders including farmer PM Nawaz Sharif. Because of their corruption, the local people dislike democracy and some time talk in the favor of the authoritarian rule. Hence, the corruption of the democratic leaders is blocking the route of democracy in the country.

The poor literacy rate of Pakistan is negatively affecting the performance of the democratic governments very badly. It is known fact that the democratic system is successful in the countries where the literacy rate is good. It is because; a person with good education background, knows the importance of his vote and uses it properly for the betterment of the country. As a result, efficient democratic leaders are elected that grab the rein of the country. Because of this reason, democracies are bearing fruitful results in the developed countries like the US and is completely collapsing in those countries where the literacy rate is poor. In Pakistan, with around 50 per cent illiterate people, democracy has failed to improve the lifestyle of the people and solve the existing crisis faced by the country. Thus, it is not wrong to say that inadequate literacy rate is causing damage to democracy in Pakistan.

The cripple economy of Pakistan also hampers the democratic progress. The better economic position of any country is directly proportional to the prosperity of democracy. The democratic system evolved from Greece because the export of the wine improved its economic position and thus a demand was raised for the civilian rule. The system remained successful. However, democracy has performed poorly in the countries facing the economic crisis. Take a classical example of Pakistan. The biggest hurdle faced by the PM Imran Khan is the major economic challenges faced by the country. These crises have not only made it difficult for his democratic government to focus on the other issues, but also created bad feelings among the citizen regarding the system. As such, the poor economy of Pakistan is acting as a biggest hurdle in the way of democracy.

An association of democratic nations must be formed to protect young democracies around the world including Pakistan from the threat of the dictators. The strong democratic nations like the US and European countries should extend their support to the civilian rules during crisis. Democracy needs support and the best support for democracy can come from other democracies. Had there been an association of democratic nations, it would have been difficult for the dictators like Zia and Musharraf to impose martial law in Pakistan. Alarmingly, in Pakistan, the military rule received generous financial support from the US, while the civilians were sidelined every time. Thus, the only way to sustain democracy in Pakistan is to form an association of democratic nations at the global level.

It is imperative for the indigenous democratic leaders to improve their performance and work hard for the betterment of the civilian to win their support. Democracy needs the cooperation of the local citizens to flourish in any country. However, the most of the democratic leaders are corrupt in Pakistan and has failed to show distinguish performance. As a result, democracy has become infamous in the country. Had they worked with faithfulness and honesty to improve the lifestyle of the people, it would have been nearly impossible for the dictators to impose direct rule. It was because of the inefficient of the democratic leaders that the citizens never resisted the military. Otherwise, they would have lay before the tanks the same way the citizens did in Turkey when a dictator tried to impose martial law there. Thus, the democratic leaders need to improve their performance to block all the route of anti democratic elements.

As such, it is reached that there is hopes as well as hurdles in the way of democracy in Pakistan. Some events like inability of the military to impose direct rule under current circumstances, mature leadership as compared to past, better performance of successive democratic governments, smooth transfer of powers by the democratic parties, improvement in the performance of the ECP and awareness among the people regarding the civilian rule, have created hope for democracy in Pakistan. In the contrast, some other events like, indirect interference of the military in the democratic governments, feudal lords system, corruption of democratic leaders, alarming literacy rate and poor economy of the country, have caused hurdles in the way of democracy in Pakistan. Keeping in view this situation, an association of democratic nations must be formed to save democracy from the anti-democratic elements. Besides, it is imperative for the democratic leaders to strive for improving the lifestyle of the local citizens to win their cooperation. Thus, democracy in Pakistan faces both hopes and hurdles and it is important to remove impediments to further flourish the civilian rule.

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Women empowerment is key to development of a country, economic position, not military, determines the strength of any country, can digitalization of an economy help overcoming the existing economic crisis of pakistan, 19 comments.

Thanks dear for sharing such valuable essay.

Nice one bro Try to share material on save water and secure pakistanfuture And also tourism and Pakistan please

Valuable information

Very informative,

informative.. thanks for sharing sir..

Splendidly , emphasised sir , we need more like this for our better understanding . Thanks

Well-written and well-updated essay, more power to you. However, an important part is missing- transitory paragraph. You have directly jumped from hopes to hurdles without giving any pause for recap and promo.

Amazing! I was not in the mood to read such long essays, but, the presentation skills of the author compelled me to read it completely.

Not a scientific one

Very informative and well organized essay👍👍

well informative and good explained thankx sir

Well written

It’s informative Sir

Every point is organised in a well manner . amazing .

sir can we write this essay in 2023 pms exam?

Wow:U brilliantly expressed ideas about democracy. What a expressions!

Such a fine art of words … Clapping from my side sir ….

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The Future of Democracy in Pakistan: Challenges and Prospects

• Current Affairs , Essays, Outlines
• May 29, 2023
• Noshin Bashir

Table of Contents

Introduction

Democracy is a form of government that rests on the principles of freedom, equality, and participation of the people. In Pakistan, democracy has been a tumultuous journey, with periods of military rule interspersed with civilian governments. As the country continues to navigate its path towards a stable democratic system, the future of democracy in Pakistan presents both challenges and prospects.

Challenges to the Future of Democracy in Pakistan

One of the foremost challenges to the future of democracy in Pakistan is political instability. Pakistan has faced frequent changes in government through military coups, dismissals of elected governments, and political crises. This has resulted in a lack of continuity in policy-making, weak governance, and erosion of public trust in democratic institutions. Additionally, corruption and nepotism have plagued the political landscape, undermining the credibility of elected representatives and diminishing public faith in democracy.

Another challenge is the rise of extremism and terrorism. Pakistan has been grappling with the menace of terrorism for decades, with militant groups posing a serious threat to the democratic process. These groups often seek to undermine democratic institutions, impose their own extremist ideology, and perpetrate violence to disrupt the democratic system. The presence of such radical elements in the country poses a significant challenge to the consolidation of democracy in Pakistan.

Furthermore, socio-economic disparities and inequality are persistent challenges that affect the future of democracy in Pakistan. A large portion of the population lives in poverty, lacks access to basic education and healthcare, and faces discrimination based on gender, religion, and ethnicity. These disparities can fuel grievances and disillusionment among marginalized groups, leading to social unrest and undermining the inclusivity of the democratic system.

Moreover, the issue of political polarization and intolerance poses a threat to the future of democracy in Pakistan. Political parties often engage in divisive rhetoric, promoting sectarianism, and exploiting ethnic, religious, and regional differences for their own gains. This polarization can lead to a breakdown of social cohesion, weaken democratic institutions, and hinder the progress of democracy in the country.

Prospects for the Future of Democracy in Pakistan

Despite these challenges, there are prospects for the future of democracy in Pakistan. One of the key prospects is the growing awareness and participation of the youth in the democratic process. Pakistan has a large youth population, and the increased access to information and technology has empowered young people to demand accountability, transparency, and good governance from their elected representatives. The youth can play a pivotal role in shaping the future of democracy in Pakistan through their active engagement in civic activities, advocacy for democratic reforms, and promotion of democratic values.

Furthermore, the role of civil society and media in Pakistan can also contribute to the prospects of democracy. Civil society organizations, human rights groups, and media outlets have been vocal advocates for democratic principles, exposing corruption, promoting accountability, and safeguarding fundamental rights. Their efforts can help in strengthening democratic institutions, fostering transparency, and building public trust in the democratic system.

Moreover, the consolidation of democratic institutions and processes can contribute to the prospects of democracy in Pakistan. This includes strengthening the judiciary, ensuring an independent and impartial election commission, and promoting a free and fair electoral process. A robust system of checks and balances, effective accountability mechanisms, and respect for the rule of law are essential for the sustainability of democracy in Pakistan.

The future of democracy in Pakistan presents both challenges and prospects. Political instability, extremism, socio-economic disparities, and polarization are significant challenges that need to be addressed to ensure a stable and inclusive democratic system. However, the growing awareness and participation of the youth, the role of civil society and media, and the consolidation of democratic institutions can contribute to the prospects of democracy in Pakistan. As the country continues to strive for a democratic system that upholds the principles of freedom, equality, and participation, addressing these challenges and leveraging these prospects will be crucial for the future of democracy in Pakistan.

Read Also: Failure of Democracy in Pakistan: Causes, Solutions, and Consequences

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Democracy Of Pakistan Essay

Table of Contents

Here we will discuss the Democracy Of Pakistan Essay. The progress of democracy in Pakistan has been irregular and unsatisfactory for several different reasons that we will discuss in this article. At the start, it may be clearly emphasized that according to the objective resolution passed by the Constituent Assembly in 1949 that Pakistan was a completely democratic system of government within an Islamic framework. Firstly, the successful working of democracy anywhere is possible when the people, as a whole are educated and well-informed. It is the ugliest fact of our social life that more than 80 percent of our people are either thoroughly illiterate or only some of them know how to write their names or how to write the basic ABC. Secondly, in Pakistan the existence of the formidable feudal system allowed the big landlords to control and direct the lives of millions of farm laborers. As we know the general elections of Pakistan 2013 will be held in the month of May. Now the question is that what is the Democracy Of Pakistan Essay? In this informative article, we will discuss the importance of and Democracy Of Pakistan Essay. The word democracy means people’s rights and representation. On the other hand, dictatorship means absolute power as well as totalitarianism. If we analyze the main difference between democracy and dictatorship then we should say that there is huge difference between these two terms.

We would like to mention that in Pakistan democracy needs time in order to spread its roots. Moreover, the democratic system in Pakistan has gone through a maximum period of evolution. The most important reason that Pakistan has a weak democratic system is the lack of political leadership in Pakistan. Pakistan has so many politicians and few statesmen. Pakistan desperately needs great leaders like Churchill and Lincoln. But unfortunately, Pakistan got people such as Ayub, Iskandar Mirza, and Zia. Pakistan needs a man who looks at the past and strives in order to secure the future of Pakistan. Moreover, Pakistan needs leaders who are willing to sacrifice their wealth, lives, and health for Pakistan. Furthermore, the role of ISI plays a major and negative obstruction in the Democracy Of Pakistan Essay. We would like to mention that Pakistan Premier Spy Agency has funded parties, had different rigged elections, and created so many problems in the past few years. If we talk about an outside situation then they show a very strong look but on the other hand when we look inside then the picture is not very impressive. When any politician enters into the corridors of power then the most important thing in his mind is corruption.

On the whole, after discussing the above-mentioned Democracy Of Pakistan Essay it is easy to conclude that it’s the need of the great hour that Pakistan needs a strong democratic system. It is only possible if honest politician takes responsibility for Pakistan. In short, the success of Pakistan’s democracy holds great importance and significance.

Failure of Democracy in Pakistan

Pakistan is a semi-democratic country. Pakistan does not have a fully established democracy because it is facing many challenges in achieving a stable and effective democratic system. Jinnah’s death in 1948 soon after the independence of Pakistan (1947) created a leadership vacuum that contributed to the failure of democracy in Pakistan.

This was largely due to the lack of strong political leadership following his death and the absence of a single individual who could effectively bring together all of the disparate factions of the Pakistani political landscape. The other major challenges that have led to failed democracy in Pakistan are mentioned below;

Students who are getting an education in different grades like Matric, Inter, and Graduation and others who do CSS or PMS are now looking for material about this topic. So, all material is mentioned because this is one of the major topics.

Military Intervention in Political Affairs of Pakistan

The military has been a powerful force in Pakistan since the country’s founding in 1947. The military has been accused to suppress democracy by overthrowing elected governments, imposing martial law, and suppressing civil liberties. The military’s influence in Pakistan has been detrimental to democracy.

The military has been accused of using its power to suppress democracy, manipulate elections, and restrict freedom of expression. This has led to a lack of transparency and accountability, as well as a lack of trust in the government. As a result, democratic institutions have been weakened, economic growth has been limited, and social change has been hindered.

The solution to this problem is for the military to move away from politics and focus on its core mission of defending the nation. The military should build better relationships with the civilian government and work with them to strengthen democratic institutions and foster a culture of respect for civilian rule.

• Hyper Nationalism & Democratization Failure

Hypernationalism in Pakistan has been a major source of instability since the country’s inception in 1947. This form of extreme nationalism has been exploited by successive governments in the pursuit of political power and to distract attention away from other social issues. As a result, democratic institutions and processes have been undermined, leading to a lack of genuine representation and participation in the political system.

• Stroking Religious Tensions

The government has also used hyper-nationalism to stoke religious tensions, leading to a polarization of society and a decline in social cohesion or solidarity. This has been particularly evident in the form of state-sponsored Islamist movements, which have undermined the rule of law and encouraged an atmosphere of intolerance and violence.

• Mistreatment of Minorities

Hypernationalism has been used to justify violations of human rights by the extremists, such as the mistreatment of minorities and the suppression of dissent. This has led to a lack of trust in the government, resulting in a breakdown in the rule of law and a decline in the quality of democracy.

• Violent and Corrupt Political Culture of Pakistan

Pakistan has a long history of political violence and a culture of corruption that has long held back the development of its democracy. The lack of an effective political system has led to powerful individuals and groups being able to influence political decisions.

This has resulted in a lack of accountability and transparency in government which leaves citizens feeling powerless and frustrated. In addition, the country has struggled to create an environment of political pluralism, with different types of political parties having difficulty competing for power.

To address these problems, such as hyper-nationalism and violent, corrupt political culture, the government must focus on creating an environment of tolerance, respect, and accountability. This includes strengthening the rule of law and ensuring that all citizens have access to justice and equal rights and the government must ensure that all political parties are free to compete for power and that the political process is open and transparent. Only then can the country move forward and its democracy can truly flourish.

• Terrorism & Democratization Failure

Terrorism has posed a major challenge to the country’s democratic efforts. It caused a great deal of violence, fear, and instability throughout the country and hampered the ability of the government to effectively govern the country. Terrorists have targeted civilians, politicians, security forces, and other important figures in the country. This has caused widespread distrust of the government and a lack of confidence in its ability to protect its citizens.

Furthermore, the presence of terrorist organizations has made it difficult for political parties to reach out to the people and carry out their campaigns. Terrorism has also caused a great deal of economic hardship in the country. The threat of terrorism has caused many foreign investors to pull out of the country which has had a devastating effect on the economy.

In order to address this issue, the Pakistani government must take steps to combat terrorism. Which includes strengthening the security apparatus, pursuing a more effective counter-terrorism strategy, and investing in counter-radicalization programs.

• Lack of Institutional Counterbalance

The lack of institutional counterbalance in Pakistan has been a major contributing factor that has made it difficult for the country’s democracy to thrive. Without the ability to check and balance the power of the executive, the government is free to ignore the laws and manipulate the electoral process to ensure its own power.

This has resulted in a lack of accountability, corruption, and political instability. The lack of strong civil society organizations and labor unions has prevented citizens from exercising their rights and holding the government accountable for its policies and actions. All of these factors have contributed to the failure of democracy in Pakistan.

The solution to this problem is to strengthen the institutions of democracy in Pakistan. This includes strengthening the independence of the judiciary, providing greater autonomy to the provincial governments, encouraging participatory decision-making, and increasing accountability and transparency. Additionally, it is important to ensure that resources are equitably distributed so that all citizens have access to basic services and economic opportunities.

• Economic Instability in Pakistan

The instability of the economy has had a major impact on democracy in Pakistan. Since its inception in 1947, Pakistan has gone through multiple economic downturns, including a period of slow growth, high inflation, and rising unemployment. This has caused a decline in public confidence in the government, leading to increased levels of distrust and dissatisfaction among the citizens.

Moreover, the lack of economic opportunities has also led to political unrest and a rise in extremism. This has resulted in a weakened political system and has significantly hindered the development of a functioning democratic state.

In order to address this issue, the Pakistani government must focus on implementing comprehensive economic reforms, such as reducing public debt, reforming the tax system, and improving the country’s business environment, etc… Additionally, the government must prioritize job creation and promote entrepreneurship, focus on strengthening the financial sector, providing access to credit, and increasing access to financial services.

Digital Democracy in Pakistan

Rapid digitization is transforming almost every aspect of life on the globe, from the economy to governance to the interaction of the citizens. The Internet is the largest and most powerful connecting link ever invented by man. It has a huge impact on everyone’s life. Whether elections, governance, communication, knowledge exchange, shopping, entertainment, or even cultural interactions. Further, Digital Democracy in Pakistan is described below.

In a digitally-driven society, the emergence of technology has given birth to digital democracy.  From e-voting, online discussion, e-commerce, and decision-making to online tax payment and obtaining a driver’s license everything in a digital democracy revolve around technology.

any advanced countries have chosen the digital democracy system and have made significant progress. The main strength of a digitally well-equipped state is that it adapts digital democratic practices to provide transparency, accountability, performativity, and mass engagement in socio-political and economic practices or processes.

Digital Landscape of Pakistan

In Pakistan, digital technology has changed the way people live and work. With a population of over 200 million people, Pakistan’s digital landscape has expanded. Over 165 million mobile phone customers, 70 million active internet users, and 60 million Smartphone users live in the country.

Digital Media`s Role in Democracy

The role of social media in changing regimes, toppling governments, and bringing social change to society is important and it is the supporting wheel in a digital democracy. In Pakistan, social media encourages young people to participate in politics. The majority of young people are using it to engage in political involvement which helps to enhance the democratic process. Citizen’s democratic engagement is being facilitated by social media which is promoting democratic dialogue.

Social Media & Pakistan Democracy

In this digital age, social media is widely regarded as a powerful tool for political communication around the globe. It has also transformed the way people talk about politics in Pakistan. Political figures have used social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to address political problems with their followers. Social media is the most effective tool for improving democracy.

Furthermore, in recent years it has made political leaders in democratic regimes more accountable. For Pakistan’s youth, social media is now providing a greater grasp of the country’s political structure. Users particularly youth are active on social media. Both male and female teenagers are using social media for political purposes. Furthermore, youngsters are using social media to raise political awareness about the voting process, political leaders, and political parties which is strengthening Pakistan’s democracy.

Challenges of Implementing Digital Democracy in Pakistan

As Pakistan is a developing country with limited technology infrastructure, it has numerous hurdles in implementing digital democracy across the country. Pakistan has a scarcity of wide-ranging technology networks or availability, and the country also has a low degree of digital literacy.

• There are still certain locations in Pakistan that do not have access to the Internet. Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan, Kashmir, and the frontier Regions are notable examples in this regard.
• As a result, these areas lose their ability to exercise democratic rights such as access to the internet and participation in political processes.
• Due to security concerns, internet services have been stopped in some areas across Pakistan.  Digital democracy in Pakistan cannot work properly in such an ad hoc environment.

How can we overcome the challenges?

Choosing or practicing true digital democracy in Pakistan requires sincere efforts. If Pakistan intends to adopt true digital democracy policies for digital democracy must be developed and implemented across the country. There should be equal access to the internet connection and a  network of technology infrastructure across the country.

In this context, the provision of digital skills and training services would be transformative in the digitization process. But, first and foremost a digital and technological chain or network across the country is required for digital democracy.

To combat Internet-related crimes and challenges a cyber security cell, similar to a cyber-troops mechanism should be established. Overall, if a country is serious about taking timely actions, the web of technology counts the most in this process and practice to support the flourishing of democratic culture.

I am professional education consultant and Teacher, my primary goal is to support students in accessing educational services through Pakistan's rapidly expanding educational website. I strive to provide valuable guidance and assistance to help students make informed decisions about their academic paths and future careers.

One Comment

can i get a literature review on current issues of Pakistan or some notes please?send me on my e mail if you have.i shall be highly thankful

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Democracy in Pakistan : Hopes and hurdles

Related Papers

Dr Arshad Javed Rizvi

This research report highlights the historical background of democracy since Athenian time, its journey from Aristotle to 20th and 21st era. In this report, focus is paid on historical background of Pakistan. Issues of bad democratic governance are highlighted. Causes behind and reasons of it failures are focused. Other aspects include the democratic and non-democratic dimension of Pakistan. Whether it can be called truly democratic and finally, Conclude if democracy in the best way forward for Pakistan. Role of political parties is highlighted; democracy can succeed only if politician’s leaders have strong commitment to democracy in both theory and practice. Key words: Democracy, Security, Political Decay, Weak States, Authoritarianism, Oligarhical Elite, Patrimonialism, Ideology

Wajahat Qazi

Pakistan's political crises continue to deepen. The country is in the midst of crises that redound negatively to itself and the world. These crises accrue largely from the absence of democracy on Pakistan. Be it the recent ouster of its Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, or the various political convolutions of the state of Pakistan since its inception and founding, the cause(s) can be attributed to the lack of democracy i n Pakistan. This in turn is predicated upon the nature and ideological premise of Pakistan, state formation and state society relations. The question is: What accounts for Pakistan's lack of democracy and the attendant political crises and instability? And given the historical record and its current existential crisis, is there hope for a salubrious democratic future for the country?

Sohail Inayatullah

Mashhood Yousafzay

The word Democracy comes from tow words demo-cracy is derives from the Greek language demos, means people, cracy, means government. In the continuation of this definition we using the famous quotation of President Abraham Lincoln: “Democracy is government of the people by the people for the people” the government of the people will be serving for the people but unfortunately in this country we have a coup d'état (overthrow, takeover) practice again and again. Why we facing these takeovers have some reasons. As human being we Pakistani are authorized for mistake but some time we have blunder in our history. The political parties have a major thought left and right but in our history we find the establishment and military dictators if we think on Pakistan democratic journey so we come on this conclusion that Pakistan run by the establishment, military and Right wing political parties in different shapes, but the left thought parties run this country like the “salt in food” which we see injustice with democracy. Pakistani establishment formed many alliances like Republican Party, IJI, MMA etc. but in few places establishment organized the political parties according to their need.

GreaterKashmir: http://www.greaterkashmir.com/

Tauseef Ahmad Parray

In Pakistan democracy and democratic institutions, in their real spirit, will reach the level of stability and smooth success after holding three to five consecutive fair elections and of course with smooth functioning of governments-in-power. And as the second consecutive democratic regime in post-Musharraf era is already in progress (with Nawaz Sharif as PM and Mamnoon Hussian as President), Pakistan will be on the path of a successful and “stable” democracy in next 10 to 15 years. It is hoped that if it goes on with same smoothness and normality, then by the year(s) 2025-30 Pakistan will be, optimistically, a successful Democratic Muslim Republican Country.

Sobia Andleeb

International Journal of Social Ecology and Sustainable Development

Suhaib Ahmed

This research note is interested in analyzing the quality of democracy in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It focuses on the current political state of the nation and how it has developed politically since its origin. Other aspects include the discussion of the democratic and non-democratic aspects of the country, whether it can be called truly democratic and finally, conclude if democracy is the best way forward for Pakistan.

MUHAMMAD IMRAN ASHRAF , Imran Malik

Pakistan holds a very important geopolitical position not only within South Asia but also in relation to the rest of the world. Connecting East and West, and with the potentiality for bridging the Global South with the North, it forms an important locus for discussing the role of democracy and democratic institutions in bringing about and sustaining peace. With attention on the 2013 election season, this article explores strategies for stakeholders within Pakistan, the aim being the improvement of prospects for democracy and prosperity.

Shahnawaz Laghari

A Short Essay: Democracy in Pakistan

Pakistan ranks 104 th in the Democracy Index of 2021 (compared to 105 th in 2020). Its democracy score is only 4.31 . It implies that there is no true democracy in Pakistan. Rather it has a hybrid regime. Norway has the highest score on this index(9.75). On the poverty index, we can see that Norway is once again at the top. It implies that it has the least amount of poverty. So, democracy and less poverty are directly proportional. Uncertain political conditions reduce foreign investment which creates inflation. Ultimately, the country becomes the victim of poverty.

A country having a better ranking in the Democratic index will be having a better ranking in the poverty reduction index. So there is a connection in both and we clearly obtain result that democracy is a solution for poverty reduction in a nation. Robert petric

Introduction

Democratic governance means a government system in which all the people of a country can vote to elect their representatives. The government in turn runs the country according to the mandate given by the people.

A controlled democracy existed in the 1950s, and a simple democracy did so in the 1960s. A socialist democracy existed in the 1970s, a guided democracy existed in the 1980s, and a sham democracy existed in the 1990s. India and Pakistan, two gained independence in 1947. They had the same constitution, the Act of India 1935 . However, governance was the issue. Unlike India, Pakistan experienced an alternative system of government; civil and martial administration.

Pakistan saw several pitfalls. But, now Pakistan is convinced that strengthening democracy in Pakistan can be shaped with hard work. It can be done by the supremacy of the constitution, independence of the judiciary, and rule of law.

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Causes of Failure of Democracy in Pakistan

There are a number of following factors responsible for the failure of democracy in Pakistan.

1. Institutional Imbalance

Since the creation of Pakistan, it is experiencing institutional imbalance. Its roots go back to the British period. Pakistan’s institutional imbalance is due to civil and military bureaucracies and non-democratic parties. Besides, weak political institutions are also causing an imbalance in Pakistan.

Pakistan always lacked a system that could hold free and fair elections. Free and fair elections should be based on a universal franchise. If there was such a system, it could provide a conducive environment for democracy to grow.

2. Intervention of Military

The democratic failure in Pakistan left so much gap to give an opportunity to the military to fulfill that gap. Formal involvement of the military in civilian matters began in 1953. They intervened to contain the riots between Sunnis and Ahmedis. But, in 1958 military intervention resulted in the martial law period.

From 1958 to 1969, Field Marshal Ayub Khan ruled Pakistan. Generals Yahya Khan from 1969 to 1971, Zia-ul-Haq from 1977 to 1989, and Pervez Musharraf from 1999 to 2008 ruled Pakistan. All martial law rulers banned political parties during their regime periods. Moreover, even constitutional abolitions and desired amendments have been there relentlessly.

3. Evasion of Land Reforms

The greatest factor responsible for the failure of democracy in Pakistan is the evasion of land reforms in Pakistan. Feudal hold has increased since its creation. Supreme bureaucracy and feudalism are the two main consequences of the evasion of land reforms.

4. Lack of Vision in Politicians

Lack of vision and lack of competence in leaders is being seen in Pakistan. Pakistan’s conservative clerics and leaders have concocted theology with democratic culture. They have not even established the correct system according to religion. Moreover, they didn’t want the development of modern times.

5. Manipulated Election Process

“Free and fair elections” is one of the necessary elements of democracy. Democratic government is actually the most popular government which can only be achieved by free and fair elections. Only free and fair elections guarantee the genuine representation of people in Parliament. Furthermore, only elections are the source of peaceful regime change. People create a nuisance if they can’t represent their needs and desires.

In this regard, Pakistan has a disappointing image. All general elections except 2006 and 1971 , have been manipulated in different ways. Some of them were manipulated during the pre-phase of elections and some were manipulated during elections. Besides, some of them were manipulated in the post-phase of elections.

6. External Threats & Internal threats

Since the creation of Pakistan, it is facing huge threats from everywhere. Some of the threats are from strong neighbors and the remaining are from extremist Pakistanis. Both threats, whether it is external or internal make it compulsory for the armed forces to become involved in civilian matters. Subsequently, this involvement weakens democratic decision-making.

7. Corruption

Corruption is rampant in Pakistan and pushing our nation to a dead end. It includes the misappropriation of public funds, debts, nepotism, bad debts, misuse of power, and favoritism. The corrupt mafia has blocked the development of Pakistan. Subsequently, people have lost their trust in democratic government. Besides, corruption poses a great threat to Pakistan’s development in the future.

8. Sectarianism

Sectarianism is engulfing Pakistan since 1947. The adoption of religion as a guiding principle in the constitution is causing uncertainty in Pakistan. Basically, it is due to two major sects inhabiting Pakistan i.e. Sunnis and Shias.

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Way Forward

Recommendations for political parties:.

• Political parties should develop well-defined people-friendly ideologies.
• They should expand their organizational network.
• All political parties should have an outlook on democracy as a culture, rather than a process.
• They should train their staff for imparting democratic education.
• They should counter the supremacy of non-political institutions.

Recommendations for State

• First of all, the state should make sure of the supremacy of constitutions.
• There should be immediate steps taken to abolish feudalism in Pakistan.
• Some new laws should be introduced to ensure free and fair elections in order to prevent rigging.
• An independent judiciary should be ensured to implement the rule of law.
• Moreover, there is a dire need for civil-military cooperation in Pakistan. it should be ensured.

Recommendations for Youth

• Youth is an indispensable role in democracy. They should register their votes and take an active part in elections.
• They should join political parties after education.
• All youth members should participate in the election considering it a responsibility.
• They should be aware of political parties and institutions in Pakistan

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Daily Times

Your right to know Thursday, May 30, 2024

How grassroots democracy can save rural Pakistan

Riaz Missen

May 28, 2024

As I dialled my village across the Sutlej River, southwest of Bahawalpur, and inquired about their well-being, a profound response echoed back: “Brother, we’ve turned savage!” This stark description captures the dire state of Pakistan’s rural areas today, revealing not only the current turmoil caused by high input costs for agriculture and low returns but also hinting at the future if the status quo persists.

Over the last three decades, rapid urban expansion has starkly contrasted with the decline of rural prosperity. Villages that once thrived on self-sufficiency and local governance are now mere shadows of their former selves. Roads and electricity may have integrated these villages into the broader consumer economy, but this integration has come at a steep cost.

Crude oil from Arab lands disrupted traditional agricultural practices, replacing oxen and wells with tractors and tube wells. Initially, this brought about a wave of prosperity, as uncultivated lands turned productive and cash crops like cotton and wheat brought unprecedented wealth.

However, this boom was short-lived. Viruses ravaged the cotton fields, and the mechanization of agriculture rendered traditional labour redundant. Dairy animals and shade trees were sold off to pay for rising electricity bills and children’s education. When the textile factories closed, jobs disappeared, and the cash flow dried up. The switch to sugarcane cultivation failed to revive the old prosperity, and educated youth, unable to find local opportunities, migrated to cities. Villages, once hopeful of regaining their lost glory, descended into chaos and desolation.

Mainstream political parties need to champion local governance, not fear it.

Today’s rural Pakistan is marked by jobless youth, an over-reliance on cash, and a struggling agricultural sector. While banks offered loans at one point, the exorbitant interest rates led to widespread land seizures, and this financial burden has only intensified. The new generation, in a bid to secure immediate needs, is selling off ancestral lands to build homes and fund weddings, neglecting the long-term implications for their children.

This downward spiral is exacerbated by the lack of local democratic institutions. Without local governance, villages cannot manage their own economies or address social issues independently. This dependence on distant urban centers and centralized power structures only deepens their marginalization. The health and sanitation issues that arise from this neglect further compound the problems, creating a cycle of decline that is hard to break without significant intervention.

Pakistan’s constitution mandates local democracy, recognizing its crucial role in ensuring balanced development and robust governance. Yet, mainstream political parties have consistently evaded this constitutional duty, fearing the decentralization of power. Local democracy is not merely a bureaucratic exercise; it is the backbone of a functioning and equitable society. Local councils can address immediate needs, manage resources efficiently, and ensure that the benefits of development reach every corner of the nation.

Investing in local democracy can transform the economic landscape of rural Pakistan. Local governments are better positioned to understand and respond to the unique challenges faced by their communities. They can ensure timely and fair distribution of agricultural inputs like fertilizers and seeds, negotiate better prices for produce, and manage local infrastructure projects that directly impact daily life.

For instance, a locally governed village can prioritize the repair of irrigation canals to prevent water wastage, or establish cooperative societies to market their produce collectively, ensuring fair prices and reducing dependency on exploitative middlemen. This localized control can revitalize agriculture, making it more resilient and profitable, thus attracting youth back to farming and stemming the tide of urban migration.

The credibility of Pakistan’s democracy hinges on the empowerment of its rural populace. Without local governance, the majority of the population remains disenfranchised, unable to influence decisions that affect their lives. This disconnection breeds discontent and erodes trust in democratic institutions. Local elections, therefore, are not just a procedural necessity but a fundamental aspect of a healthy democracy.

Political parties must recognize that their long-term viability depends on grassroots support. Engaging with local issues, fostering local leadership, and ensuring that local governments have the financial and administrative autonomy promised by the constitution will strengthen the democratic fabric of the nation. It will also diminish the influence of vested interests that thrive in the absence of accountable local institutions.

The path to Pakistan’s prosperity, political stability, and global respect lies in embracing and implementing grassroots democracy. This requires a paradigm shift in how political power is perceived and exercised. It means trusting local communities to manage their own affairs and recognizing that a decentralized approach can lead to more sustainable and inclusive development.

Mainstream political parties need to champion local governance, not fear it. They must push for regular, free, and fair local elections, and support policies that devolve financial and administrative powers to local councils. Only then can Pakistan break free from the cycle of decline, harness the full potential of its rural areas, and restore faith in its democratic institutions.

The writer is an Islamabad-based veteran journalist and an independent researcher. He can be reached on Twitter @riazmissen

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Democracy in Pakistan: Challenges and Prospects

• Quratulain Babar
• February 11, 2024
• CSS , CSS Essays , CSS Solved Essays

Democracy in Pakistan: Challenges and Prospects | CSS & PMS Solved Essays

Quratulain Babar , a Sir Syed Kazim Ali student, has attempted the CSS essay “ Democracy in Pakistan: Challenges and Prospects ” on the given pattern, which Sir  Syed Kazim Ali  teaches his students. Sir Syed Kazim Ali has been Pakistan’s top English writing and CSS, PMS essay and precis coach with the highest success rate of his students. The essay is uploaded to help other competitive aspirants learn and practice essay writing techniques and patterns to qualify for the essay paper.

1-Introduction

Although Pakistan’s democracy is still in its early stages, facing challenges, such as public unawareness, a distorted political culture, and a widening gap between political parties and the electorate, democracy holds a crucial role in the country’s society, emphasizing the necessity of immediate free and fair elections and improved governance as essential steps to overcome the current political turmoil.

2-Understanding Democracy and its prerequisites?

3-State of Democracy in Pakistan

4-Challenges to Democracy in Pakistan

• Case in point:  According to Barbara Crossett, a New York Times reporter, in Pakistan, the baradari system plays a crucial role in the party’s choice of candidates
• Case in point:  The average voter turnout for the past nine general elections is just over 45 per cent.
• Case in point:  Major political parties like PPP and PML (N) hold no internal elections for party offices, which are filled through nominations and appointments.
• Case in point:  According to the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, Pakistan is ranked at 140th position among 180 countries.
• Case in point:  The inability of the civilian governments to complete their five-year tenure.

5-Prospects of Democracy in Pakistan

• Case in point:  It was stated at a Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency’s roundtable discussion on the International Day of Democracy that 63 per cent of Pakistanis believe that a civilian government can govern the country.
• Case in point:  The study conducted by the University of Karachi on a sample of students shows that political awareness among the youth is due to mass media.
• Case in point:  Many Chief Justices have considered missing persons, and a particular cell has been made to deal with the cases.
• Case in point:  The lawyers’ movement of 2007-08
• Case in point:  The punishment of paramilitary personnel who recklessly shot a criminal suspect in Karachi, which followed an expose of the brutal shooting by a television channel .

6-How to Counter the Challenges to Democracy?

• ✓By restructuring the political parties
• ✓By promoting a culture of cooperation among political parties
• ✓By holding free and fair elections 

7-Conclusion 

Democracy, in its present form, has taken a long time to emerge, bolstered by many developments – from 1215, the English Magna Carta, to the French and the American Revolutions in the eighteenth century, to the adult franchise spread in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in North America and Europe. But since the latter half of the twentieth century, democracy has been established as a form of government to which every nation is entitled – whether in Europe, America, Asia, or Africa. The flowering and reach of democratic practice are, however, a continuing process. Likewise, democracy in Pakistan, still in its juvenile stage, is undergoing the same evolution as it is yet to solve many problems that threaten its democracy. For instance, unawareness among the masses about the nature of democracy, distorted political culture, deteriorating political crisis, and, among others, the widening political gap between the political parties and the electorate are significant hurdles in democracy. Despite these challenges, it is irrefutable that democracy has attained a special place in Pakistan, and if it continues to flourish, its prospects can be multiple. To illustrate, the wide acceptance of democracy, the emergence of an assertive judiciary, and a more vibrant civil society are the rays of light in the darkness, indicating that there is no viable political solution other than democracy for Pakistan’s political turmoil. Thus, the political elite should pull Pakistan out of this dilemma by holding immediate free and fair elections and improving governance to fill the void between the government and the masses.

Democracy is a system of government in which laws, policies, leadership, and significant initiatives of a state or other political entity are determined directly or indirectly by the “People’. Historically, this group was often a minority, such as all male adults in ancient Athens or all sufficiently propertied male adults in 19th-century Britain. However, the concept has evolved to encompass all or nearly all adult citizens in the modern era. Like any other form of government, democracy has its fundamentals, without which it cannot flourish in any state. For instance, free and fair elections are the prerequisites of democracy. Moreover, free media, newspapers, and television cannot be ignored in the contemporary era because they are essential to creating political awareness among the general public. Another vital precondition of democracy is education, which generates a well-informed electorate. In addition, freedom of speech and expression, particularly on societal and political issues, is the critical essence of democracy. All these elements and a fair and impartial judiciary form the main pillars of democracy.

Currently, Pakistan is experiencing a complete breakdown of democracy with a powerless interim setup at the centre provinces serving beyond their constitutional mandate, a divided judiciary that is being openly defied, and an increasingly censored media. Moreover, the post-2018 period has seen democratic reversals and regression as the hybrid arrangement entailed the military establishment, giving it an expansive role in politics, governance, and even the economy.  According to the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency, the phase that ended with the Parliament’s dissolution in August this year is the period of democratic decline rather than democratic consolidation.  Further, this has been accompanied by primarily politically motivated corruption cases against opposition leaders, the jailing of political leaders and activists, the defiance of the rule of law, and the marginalization of the Parliament.

There are many culprits behind the sorry state of democracy in the country. First, one of the significant challenges to informed choices is Pakistan’s flawed political culture. Political culture refers to peoples’ attitudes toward the political system and its various parts and attitudes towards the self in the system. In the case of Pakistan, the political structure is greatly influenced by caste and the radar system. In this system, people are divided into social hierarchical communities, and each community has its place in the social hierarchy, remaining constant generation after generation. Moreover, individual opinions have no value; these are bound by the decisions of the biradari, who make decisions on every political and social aspect.  According to Barbar Crossette, a New York Times reporter, the biradari system in Pakistan plays a vital role in the party’s choice of candidates . Further, the backward rural areas of the country have feudalism-like political structures regulated by feudal lords. As a result, the leading political parties maximize their vote by harnessing landlords and factory owners. Thus, in such a political culture, informed choices become a dream for individuals whose opinions do not stand a chance before the biradari or landlord.

Another factor that poses a challenge to democratic stability is what might be called the political gap between the existing political parties and the electoral system, and several factors have transformed the national landscape. To illustrate, recent years have seen a wave of urbanization – a shift in the centre of economic power from rural areas to cities, the expansion of modern communication technologies, and greater public awareness brought about by broadcast and social media. However, representative or electoral politics have lagged and failed to reflect these changes. This has created a growing disconnect between traditional politics and new social dynamics. A telling symptom of the gap between electoral politics and changing public aspirations is the falling voter turnout.  For instance, the average voter turnout for the past nine general elections is just a little over 45 per cent, which means that more than half of the voters do not even participate in electing their new governments at the federal and provincial levels . Thus, the archaic nature of Pakistani politics puts it at odds with the changing society and its needs, making it difficult for democracy to evolve. 

Moreover, the weak institution of political parties also hampers the development of democracy.  For example, major political parties like PPP and PML(N) hold no internal elections for party offices, which are filled through nominations and appointments.  As a result, party officials are not representatives of the workers who feel frustrated about this imposition from the top. These party officials tend to come from the ruling classes and care little about the workers and the need to remain in touch with the problems of ordinary citizens. They turn into sycophants for the leader at the top and end up insulating and isolating him from political realities, thus creating a void between the party and its voters and allowing non-political actors to come into play.

Further, bad governance is another major hurdle in democracy, as the country is performing poorly at all governance indicators: transparency, accountability, service delivery, and the rule of law. It is manifested in governance based on clientelist politics geared to rewarding networks of supporters rather than the needs of citizens. This encourages rent-seeking behaviour and corruption.  According to the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, Pakistan is ranked at 140th position among 180 countries.  Regarding other governance indicators, the government cannot provide public goods to its citizens and uphold the rule of law. For example, according to a report released by the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), the government cannot provide even safe drinking water to its citizens, let alone other necessities of the masses. Thus, the inability of the government to govern and cater to the needs of the masses does not allow democracy to flourish in the country.

Further, political instability is one of the significant challenges to democracy.  This is manifested in the inability of civilian governments to complete their tenure.  It happens due to the lack of cooperation and tolerance between the ruling party and the opposition. This results in the apolitical forces to come into play, leading to political instability. Thus, the clashes and conflicts between the political parties are the major impediments to the development of actual democratic norms.

Nonetheless, no matter how significant these challenges are, they cannot obstruct the dawn of democracy in the country. As is evident from changing socio-political dynamics, only the future of democracy in Pakistan is feasible. In this regard, significant trends favouring the consolidation of democracy are discussed below.

First, political actors – political parties and other stakeholders and participants in the democratic process – now have a shared stake in the continuance of democracy. However, this was not always so in the past when one or another political party looked to the army to resolve their political disputes. But now, there is wide acceptance and public consensus that military intervention is not the answer or the option.  In this consideration, it was stated at a Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency’s roundtable discussion on the International Day of Democracy that 63 per cent of Pakistanis believe that a civilian government can govern the country.  The military even supports this consensus, which is moving toward accepting the principle of civilian democracy. This has added to the delegitimization of military rule in the country. Thus, the broad consensus on the democratic form of government indicates the prospects for democracy in the country.

Moreover, the growth and expansion of media – broadcast and social, has made it a powerful political force, paving the way for democracy. It is exercising this power to hold rulers to account, expose corruption and injustice, and become a platform for sustained demands for accountable governance. Undoubtedly, the media in Pakistan has become more open, direct, and proactive, highlighting societal wrongdoings. As a result, it has become an effective tool that creates political awareness among the masses, enabling them to participate in the political process effectively.  For instance, the study conducted by the University of Karachi on a sample of students shows that political awareness among the youth is due to mass media.  Consequently, political awareness has led the youth to have political discussions and political participation in different forums. Thus, the rise of media as a robust political force indicates the bright future of democracy in the country. 

Like the media, another emerging force is the assertive judiciary that is contributing to the consolidation of democracy. To illustrate, it is seeking to operationalize democratic checks and balances, limit the excess of executive power and focus government attention on pressing issues, for example, the breakdown of law and order in Karachi, increasing corruption, and the cases of missing persons. Among many cases going on at present in the Supreme Court is an investigation of missing persons allegedly picked by the country’s security forces.  In this regard, many Chief Justices have considered missing persons, and a particular cell has been made to deal with the cases.  In this way, the judiciary tries to ensure that ill practices are subject to the law and that Pakistan’s democracy is anchored in the rule of law and does not degenerate into elected autocracy or kleptocracy.

In addition, the rise of a large, more assertive urban middle class also has an essential bearing on democratic consolidation.  It has unleashed new political dynamics as it wants a more prominent political voice, expressing itself first in the lawyers’ movement of 2007-08.  This saw months of street action by lawyers and members of civil society in support of judges ousted by President Pervaiz Musharaf and in defense of the rule of law. Two waves of protests led to the restoration of the Chief Justice and his colleagues. Although the campaign had a single-point agenda, it reflected broader liberal-democratic aspirations and was spearheaded by middle-class professionals, with politicians following, not leading. Thus, the urban middle class wanting to play a role in the country’s politics affords opportunities to align Pakistan’s governance with the forces of demographic change and the modernizing impulses of a social class whose universe is quite different from the stagnant, patrimonial world of traditional politics. 

Similarly, the well-informed civil society is another countervailing force, increasing the odds of democracy in the country. In this regard, unjust practices at national and international levels are now challenged more frequently and confidently. Examples abound of citizens taking their cases to the media, the media mounting pressure, and the judiciary taking action in a mutually reinforcing manner.  This is exemplified by the punishment of paramilitary personnel who recklessly shot a criminal suspect in Karachi, which followed an expose of the brutal shooting by a television channel.  This and other cases illustrate a new form of citizen-driven accountability.

So, to ensure the country’s democratic evolution, specific measures are suggested to avert the challenges to democracy. For example, the restructuring of political parties is of utmost significance. This institution needs to be strong by involving all members in decision-making. In addition, all the parties must carry out regular elections within their respective parties so new leaders can emerge. Local governments are the ideal nurturing grounds for political leadership as the people serving in the union councils are aware of the ground realities and needs of the people and, thus, are more deserving of coming up in the political hierarchy of their concerned political parties. This would ultimately lead to a strong leadership with a well-defined political ideology, leading the country on a democratic path.

Furthermore, there is a dire need for a cooperation-based system where all political stakeholders collaborate for the greater national good regardless of their diverse ideologies. This can be done by enacting a charter of democracy, as in the past, so that an environment of tolerance can prevail. This is necessary for the smooth functioning of the government as it would prevent the exploitative elements from taking advantage of the differences between the ruling elite and the opposition.

No less importantly, in the contemporary scenario, the most widely advocated solution to the challenges to democracy is the prompt conduct of free and fair elections. As a result of the ousting of the previous government, most citizens feel betrayed as they do not believe in the legitimacy of the current interim setup. Thus, fair general elections would lead to political stability, ultimately opening up the avenues for democratic stability of the country.  

In summary, democracy in Pakistan has specific challenges like weak political parties, bad governance, the gap between the masses and the government, and political instability. Still, the future of democracy in Pakistan is feasible due to the emergence of new acts changing the country’s political dynamics. For instance, the government is witnessing an interplay between a recently empowered judiciary, vigorous media, and citizen activism. These are excellent signs to argue that democracy has a future in Pakistan. Thus, to overcome the impediments of democracy, there is a need to restructure the political parties, hold free and fair elections, and improve governance.

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Islamabad [Pakistan], May 27 (ANI): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Election Commission is set to issue the nomination papers for the election of the party’s new president on Monday, reported ARY News.

The five-member election commission of the party is spearheaded by Rana Sanaullah. Meanwhile, Iqbal Jhagra, Ishrat Ashraf, Jamal Shah Kakar and Khealdas Kohistani are the other members associated with the commission.

Candidates can get nomination papers upto 5:00 in the evening, a party spokesperson said. “The papers could be submitted from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon tomorrow,” the spokesperson added.

“Scrutiny of the papers will be held between 1:00 to 2:00 pm.”

“The central general council of the party will elect a new president at 4:00 pm tomorrow,” the election commission announced, according to ARY News.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is likely to return unopposed as the PML-N president.

The agenda for the PML-N general council session includes electing the party’s president and amending the party’s constitution. Shehbaz Sharif, the party’s acting president, and the newly elected president will both address the session.

During the session, the general council will vote on resolutions concerning Kashmir, Palestine, and other issues.

The PML-N had earlier announced to hold the party’s general council meeting for the president’s election on May 11 but later decided to hold the session on the occasion Youm-e-Takbeer on May 28, the day marking the completion of 26 years since Pakistan’s nuclear tests on May 28th, 1998. (ANI)

This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

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Guest Essay

I’m an Indian Muslim, and I’m Scared to Say So

By Mohammad Ali

Mr. Ali, a journalist and writer who focuses on right-wing efforts to transform India into a Hindu nation, wrote from Delhi.

I used to answer the phone with “Salam.” Not anymore. I don’t want people to know I’m a Muslim.

There is little that would identify me as Muslim to begin with, aside from my name. I don’t wear a skullcap, and in public I avoid wearing the loosefitting Pathani kurta and peppering my speech with Urdu words, all of which are identity markers for Indian Muslims. But in the India of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, you can’t take any chances.

For 10 years, Mr. Modi’s Hindu-chauvinist government has vilified the nation’s 200 million Muslims as dangerous undesirables. Recently, he took that rhetoric to a new low during the six weeks of voting in India’s national elections — which are widely expected to win him a third consecutive five-year term — directly referring to Muslims as “infiltrators” in a country that he and his followers seek to turn into a pure Hindu state.

As offensive as that was, it is sadly familiar to Indian Muslims like me who — after a decade of denigration, violence and murder — live in daily fear of being identified and attacked, forcing us into self-denial to protect ourselves.

India is home to one of the world’s largest Muslim populations. Islam came here around 1,300 years ago, and Indian Muslims descend from natives of this land who converted to Islam centuries ago. Many Indian Muslims fought against British colonization, and millions rejected the 1947 partition of the country into a predominantly Hindu India and a mostly Muslim Pakistan. India is our home, and people like me are proud patriots.

But Mr. Modi’s Hindu nationalism has made us the targets in what might be the largest radicalization of people on the planet. Its seeds were planted with the founding in 1925 of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a right-wing Hindu organization that sought the establishment of a fully Hindu state in India and was inspired by the European fascism of that era. When Mr. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party — a political offshoot of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh — won elections in 2014 and he became prime minister, he and his followers saw it as the civilizational moment that Hindus had been waiting for. Mr. Modi was the god-king who would free Hindu civilization from centuries of domination, first by a series of Muslim rulers culminating with the Mughal empire that ruled India for around three centuries and then by the British colonizers who followed.

Islamophobia isn’t new to India, and Muslims also faced prejudice and recurring violence during the generations in which the liberal upper-caste Hindu elite dominated the nation’s secular democratic politics. But under Mr. Modi’s right-wing leadership, hatred of Muslims has effectively become state policy. India is now a country where police have been accused of standing by as Hindus attack Muslims , where the killers of religious minorities go unpunished and where Hindu extremists openly call for the genocide of Muslims.

Protest, and you run the risk of having a Hindu mob unleashed on you. That’s what happened after Mr. Modi’s government in 2019 pushed through a citizenship law that discriminates against Muslims and his party promised to expel “infiltrators” from the country. When Indian Muslims protested, one of Mr. Modi’s supporters responded with a provocative speech that is blamed for sparking deadly clashes between Hindus and Muslims in Delhi in February 2020. Police were accused of looking the other way as Muslims had their shops destroyed, were assaulted and were even killed.

Bulldozers have become a symbol of this state terrorism — rolled out at right-wing rallies, tattooed on the arms of Modi supporters and featured in Hindu nationalist songs — because of their use in areas governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party to illegally knock down the homes and businesses of Muslims who dare to speak up. Some states have essentially made Muslim-Hindu relationships illegal, based on an absurd Hindu conspiracy theory that Muslim men are seducing Hindu women as part of a long-term plan to turn India into a Muslim nation.

The liberal Hindu elite, instead of acknowledging its role in enabling the sentiments on which Mr. Modi has capitalized, has done little to help, other than to ineffectually express nostalgia for a lost Hindu tolerance. And there is little that Indian Muslims can do within the political system: Although the Muslim share of India’s population has slowly grown to 14 percent, the percentage of Parliament members who are Muslim has declined to less than 5 percent today, compared with 9 percent in the early 1980s.

The Indian Muslim response to our subjugation has largely been a deafening silence. Many of us are simply unwilling to speak out against the Modi government’s bitter bargain: that for us to exist as Indian citizens, we must meekly accept historical revisionism, dehumanization and demonization.

This debasement, and the knowledge that you are essentially outside the protection of the law, kills something inside you. You take precautions to protect yourself. My mother no longer packs mutton for me to take back to Delhi after I visit her, as she used to. She’s afraid it will be mistaken for beef: Dozens of Muslims have reportedly been killed or assaulted by Hindu mobs on suspicion of killing cows — which are sacred to Hindus — or for eating or possessing beef. Muslim parents now routinely repeat a litany of don’ts to their children: Don’t appear Muslim in public, don’t reveal your name, don’t enter Hindu areas or travel alone and don’t get pulled into any potential confrontation.

While we caution one another to blend in, it’s difficult to reconcile with the whole thing. Each of us has something embedded in our sense of self and expression that is particularly painful to erase. And the sort of physical markers we are trying to hide are not even wholly specific to Muslims in India. My cousin likes to wear his Pathani kurta, but so do many Hindus. My youngest sister prefers to keep her head covered, but so do many Hindu women, although not with a hijab. I’m attached to using certain Urdu words that have long been a feature of India’s syncretic culture and have been used widely by Hindus, too.

Self-denial leads to deep frustration. Now during gatherings with friends and family, we avoid politics; discussing the elephant in the room only reminds us of our helplessness. The cumulative weight of all this has created a mental health crisis of fear and depression among Muslims. Yet because of a desperate shortage of mental health professionals in India and a limited understanding of our new reality by many non-Muslim therapists, many Muslims are left to cope on their own.

I was hesitant to write this essay. I am not supposed to protest, to speak up. When I sometimes do, posting online about it, the typical response is, “Go to Pakistan.” But why would I leave? I am an Indian. I was born here, as were my ancestors who opposed the religious basis of the partition with Pakistan and believed in the Indian ideals of secular democracy.

But many Muslims have fled over the years, emigrating to Australia, Canada, Britain, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia or elsewhere because of the worsening political climate. Many who can’t afford to emigrate are moving out of the predominantly Hindu or mixed neighborhoods where they lived for decades, to poorer Muslim areas for safety. Two of my Muslim friends and I used to own apartments in a suburban area near New Delhi where many upper-caste Hindus lived. But in 2020, after the discriminatory citizenship law was passed, a Hindu mob charged through the neighborhood baying for Muslim blood. My two friends soon moved out. I kept my apartment, but in the elevator one evening in 2022, I overheard two men discussing how many katua (a derogatory term for Muslims that refers to circumcision) lived in the area. I moved out the next day. Sadly, Hindu friends and colleagues of mine also have become colder and more distant and are dropping out of contact.

On June 1, India’s voting period comes to a close. It looms as a day of dread for Muslims like me. According to most projections, it will be another victory for Mr. Modi — and further validation of mob rule and the debasement of 200 million Muslims by a hubristic Hindu majority.

Mohammad Ali (@hindureporter) is an independent journalist and writer who divides his time between New York and India. He is writing a book on growing up in India as Narendra Modi and his party have sought to transform India into a Hindu nation.

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What’s at stake in the European Parliament election next month

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Around 400 million European Union citizens go to the polls next month to elect members of the European Parliament, or MEPs, in one of the biggest global democratic events.

Far-right parties are seeking to gain more power amid a rise in the cost of living and farmers’ discontent, while the wars in Gaza and Ukraine are on the minds of voters.

One of the biggest questions is whether European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will remain in charge as the most visible face of the EU.

Here is a look at the upcoming election and the biggest issues at stake:

WHEN IS THE VOTE? EU elections are held every five years across the 27-member bloc. This year marks the 10th parliamentary election since the first polls in 1979, and the first after Brexit .

The vote takes place from June 6-9. First results can only be revealed on the evening of June 9, once polling stations have closed in all member states.

HOW VOTING WORKS? The elections start on a Thursday in the Netherlands and finish on a Sunday, when most countries hold their election. The voting is done by direct universal suffrage in a single ballot.

The number of members elected in each country depends on the size of the population. It ranges from six for Malta, Luxembourg and Cyprus to 96 for Germany. In 2019, Europeans elected 751 lawmakers. Following the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU in 2020, the number of MEPs fell to 705. Some of the 73 seats previously held by British MEPs had been redistributed to other member states.

After the election, the European Parliament will have 15 additional members, bringing the total to 720. Twelve countries will get extra MEPs.

Elections are contested by national political parties, but once they are elected, most of the lawmakers then join transnational political groups.

WHO IS VOTING? People under 18 are allowed to vote in some countries. In Belgium, a law adopted in 2022 lowered the minimum voting age to 16. Germany, Malta and Austria are also permitting 16-year-olds to vote. In Greece, the youngest voting age is 17. In all other member states, it’s 18.

A minimum age is also required to stand for election — from 18 in most countries to 25 in Italy and Greece.

WHAT ABOUT TURNOUT? European Union elections usually don’t bring a huge turnout, but there was a clear upturn in public interest in the 2019 election. At 50.7%, the turnout was eight points higher than in 2014 after steadily falling since 1979, when it reached 62%.

In April, the latest edition of the European Parliament’s Eurobarometer highlighted a surge of interest in the upcoming election. Around 71% of Europeans said they are likely to cast a ballot.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN ISSUES? Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is at the forefront of citizens’ minds, with defense and security seen as key campaign issues. At national level, the EU’s defense and security was mentioned first in nine countries.

The economy, jobs, poverty and social exclusion, public health, climate change and the future of Europe are also featuring prominently as issues.

WHAT DO EU LAWMAKERS DO? The European Parliament is the only EU institution to be elected by European citizens. It’s a real counterpower to the powerful EU’s executive arm, the European Commission.

The parliament doesn’t have the initiative of proposing legislation. But its powers are getting bigger. It is now competent on a wide range of topics, voting on laws relating to climate, banking rules, agriculture, fisheries, security or justice. The legislature also votes on the EU budget, which is crucial to the implementation of European policies, including, for instance, the aid delivered to Ukraine.

Lawmakers are also a key element of the check and balances system since they need to approve the nomination of all EU commissioners, who are the equivalent of ministers. And it can also force the whole commission to resign with a vote by a two-third majority.

WHAT’S THE CURRENT MAKEUP OF THE PARLIAMENT? With 176 seats out of 705 as of the end of the last plenary session in April, the center-right European People’s Party is the largest political group in the European Parliament.

Von der Leyen belongs to the EPP and hopes to remain at the helm of the EU’s executive arm after the election.

The second-largest group is the S&D, the political group of the center-left Party of European Socialists, which currently holds 139 seats. The liberal and pro-European Renew group holds 102 seats ahead of an alliance made up of green and regionalist political parties that holds 72 seats.

FAR RIGHT LOOKS TO MAKE GAINS Two groups with far-right parties, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Identity and Democracy (ID), could be headed to becoming the third- and fourth-largest political groups at the European Parliament. The two groups have many divergences and it’s unclear to what extent they could team up and affect the EU’s agenda, especially the EU’s efforts to support Ukraine against Russia in the war.

The EPP and S&D are expected to remain stable. Liberals and greens could both take a hit after they made big gains at the previous election.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE ELECTION? Once the weight of each political force is determined, MEPs will elect their president at the first plenary session, from July 16-19. Then, most likely in September after weeks of negotiations, they will nominate the president of the European Commission, following a proposal made by the member states.

In 2019, von der Leyen won a narrow majority (383 votes in favor, 327 against, 22 abstentions) to become the first woman to head the institution. Parliamentarians will also hear from the European commissioners before approving them in a single vote.

Von der Leyen has good chances to be appointed for another team, but she needs to secure the support of enough leaders. She has also antagonized many lawmakers by suggesting she could work with the hard right depending on the outcome of the elections.

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