MANAZAR HUSSAIN QURESHI

WHY DEMOCRACY FAILD IN PAKISTAN

Outline: Topic sentence------------causes of failure of democracy in Pakistan---------- (1) illiteracy (2)
Feudal system------------------ (3) –injustice and inequality -------------- (4) Lack of accountability

(5) Corruption--------------- (6) role of army generals --------------- (7) Role of biradari system

(7) No democracy within the political parties -------------- (8) Foreign hands --------------- (9) role of
judiciary----------------Conclusion

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In Pakistan, the need for establishing a true democracy is as old as the country
itself. Though we have celebrated our golden jubilee yet the plant of democracy is
still a sapling and could not become a tree. There are several reasons of failure of
democracy in Pakistan.

Firstly, Illiteracy is a major cause of failure of democracy in Pakistan. Majority

of Pakistan are illiterate. Illiteracy is a small pane in a large window, opening
into the world of knowledge based on reading and writing as one of the earliest
cultural activities of mankind. But the picture of illiteracy in Pakistan is grim.
People don’t have any political awareness. They do not know the worth of their
votes. They are made fool during the elections. The politicians bribe and tempt
the voters and after winning the elections, when they return to assemblies they
promote their own vested interests and industrial empires. In this way
democracy cannot flourish.

Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”

- Frederick Douglass

Secondly, Democracy has failed in our country due to the feudal system
which has strong roots in the rural areas of Pakistan. The landlords and feudals
have hijacked our political system. They control the lives of millions of farm
labourers and farmers and their families do not have the courage to challenge
their authority at the time of election, they vote for these big guns or
feudals.These feudal lords win the election by the dint of their power and
wealth come to assemblies with sole aim of looting wealth and increasing their
influence. Most of our assemblies are populated by these landlords. In such
circumstances democracy cannot grow smoothly.

Thirdly, Democracy could not progress due to injustice and inequality

practiced by the ruling part of the people. We lost East Pakistan due to the same
reasons. The people of Baluchistan, Fata and KPK always complained against in
equal distribution of power. It has produced a sense of frustration among them,
that’s why they are not the part of this political system.

“Our inequality materializes our upper class, vulgarizes our middle

class, brutalizes our lower class.” –Matthew Arnold

Fourthly, another major cause of failure of democracy is lack of

accountability or an effective system of check and balance. That’s why every
elected civilian government becomes omnipotent and powerful which gives
rise to corruption and mal-administration. The government institutions do not
work on merit and pay lip service on the dictation of the political leaders.

Fifthly, Corruption is another cause of failure of democracy in our country.

It is notable that various mal-practices such as horse-trading, nepotism,
bribery, illegal obligations and other forms of corruption are very common
among our politicians. In fact, the elite group of elected members uses powers
of their public offices to advance their personal interests including
engagement in politics of THANA and KUCHHERY (Police and Court),
earnestly seeking allotment of development and discretion funds. They also
take loans from the banks in billions and do not return. In such a pathetic
condition democracy cannot progress.

Sixthly, We cannot set-aside the negative role of Army Generals in this regard.
In Pakistan power hungry generals like General Ayub khan,General Zia-Ul-Haq
and General Mushraf dismissed many elected civilian governments .Since the day
of inception ,the people of Pakistan have faced more military rule than that of
civilian. These military rulers have tarnished the democratic norms to prevail in the
country.
Seventhly, our people cast vote on biradari level. They do not keep in mind the
qualification or caliber of the candidates. They do not value the national interests
.They always prefer their own interests which are associated with the biradari.They
do not cast their vote to those who do not belong to their biradari despite the fact
that he is highly educated ,experienced and honest candidate for
assembly.Consequently,their choice becomes the cause of failure of democracy.

Eighthly, there is no democracy within the parties. Nepotism is the gift of such
a political system here in Pakistan. The politics revolves around the personalities
and their families. The family members of the ruling class have been our masters
since the creation of democracy. These political parties are responsible for not
promoting democratic culture in Pakistan. Their royal style of govern ship has not
helped democracy to strengthen its roots in Pakistan.

Ninethly, We cannot ignore the foreign hands involved in our national politics.
Our brother countries like Saudi Arab, Iran, Dubai and Afghanistan have been
involved in national politics. America, Great Britain and India have also been
interfering in our politics. They have their own vested interests and they never
played any positive role to strengthen our democratic institutions. They have been
supporting their own representatives here in Pakistan who work for them.

Lastly, In Pakistan, the judiciary and Press have never been free. Democracy in a
country where judiciary and press do not enjoy freedom can’t prosper. In the past,
the army generals and civilian dictators have misused their power and authority
and used press and judiciary for their own interests. The judges were threatened,
bribed and tempted by the rulers. In the same way the journalists were also
threatened, chained, killed and sent behind the bars. In these circumstances
democracy could not be flourished.

In short these were some of the causes of failure of democracy of failure of

democracy in Pakistan. Despite these draw backs the future of democracy is not
dark in Pakistan. Now media is free and can play positive role. We need
reformation and overhauling of our political system. We need certain changes in
our electoral system to strengthen our democratic political system.