Farce of Democracy

By Jahangeer Kakar | March 2020

There was a lot of naughty media rumpus on how the Services Chiefs’ Extension Bills could be passed with such ease when the Parliament was supposed to be instrumentally an epitome of representing a true democracy, as claimed by the politicians, especially in the opposition benches. Was it purely the art and craft of dark magic or some powerful Harry Porter incantations that had caste their mesmerizing spell to beguile the democrats into a state of hallucination and had pushed them into becoming freaky clowns in practicing such hasty democracy?

Democracy was last seen moving on wheel chairs twice: first, when it was coming out of an accountability court in Sindh and second, when the wheel chair flew to the birth country of democracy. This is what happened to 220 million people moving on a wheel chair democracy!

A consumerist nation exists on perceptions imported by its historical ground realities and blindly subscribes to anything foreign, defying both rhyme and reason. This consumerism shuts down their own intellect and forces upon them the habit of seeking foreign harbingers in the hope of resolving indigenous problems manufactured by intellectual dacoits. The case for democracy as chanted in Pakistan reflects the country’s consumerist nature as a state. What is known as ‘democracy’ is absolutely not what we is practiced and though it postures as being’ democratic.’ Plainly, it is a tale of controlled power politics where certain houses, families and groups of influential clans, have always flouted democracy and have been grinding their own axes in perpetuating their individual, family or clan legacies that have been wholly taken over by brute power and brazen self-interest. They are setting up ideals of aristocracy rather than democracy.

Force and power have been the innate attributes and sine qua non in Pakistan as inherited after the dvision of British India. From the very day of its birth, Pakistan has faced practical extinction threats from its bigger neighbour. The security of the state has always been of paramount priority from the very day Pakistan came into existance. The political junta in Pakistan has always hidden under the apron strings of Pakistan’s security. There were instances of political parties at the left of centre which, even after the birth of Pakistan, opposed its existence and questioned the need for the country’s existence. The element of power was always enshrined in consolidating and defending the state.

After Pakistan became a reality, the political discourse moved around power and not democracy. The struggle for power always ruled politics. It was this rage for power that brought about an amputation of the country. This also brought to the surface the political ineptness of the politicians.

The evolution of political parties is another perplexing development in the political landscape of Pakistan. Democracy is based on representatives of the people and is grounded well in the people. Such re-presentation further expresses the popular will of the people which forms the inner core of democracy. Sadly, in Pakistan, no political party can be said to have evolved any original political thought. This tells the sob story of how political parties in Pakistan are simply half-measures. These parties do not follow any concrete political thought and cannot perpetuate their existence by motivating people. They are not aware of the real hindrances and how they can lead revolutions against the status quo.

With the exception of the Pakistan People’s Party in Bhutto’s earlier times, which represented a hybrid form of socialism, other political parties are merely pressure or interest groups and the PPP has now also joined the same lot. The feudal leaders rule the country’s politics in the name of democracy.

The PML-N staunchly follows its own dynastic politics comprising brothers, sons and daughters and is like a middle eastern sheikhdom rather than a party devoted to democracy. Imran Khan’s Tehreek-i-Insaaf was one ray of hope but it has also become a part of the status quo. Imran still wrongly believes his PTI is the third political party in a bi-partisan Pakistan, altogether forgetting that with the exception of his own self, PTI is now composed of people who were earlier either in the PML(N), PML(Q), APML and the PPP. They share the same mindset and their only agenda is getting power for themselves. Had Imran Khan continued his struggle with the original PTI, his party would have developed into a truly democratic party and his dream of ‘change’ may then have come true. But it seems, IK was sent people by the other two major political parties to maintain the status quo in hereditary and power politics. The other political parties in the country strictly adhere to either family politics or coveted bloodline politics.

The chatter from Pakistan’s political parties about democracy is just a farce. Any political party which itself is enveloped by the pressure element and which believes in power politics, cannot withstand the openness, fairness and merit of democracy. The race for preservation of self-interests and perpetuating the status quo are the prime features of Pakistan‘s political landscape. They may be talking about their struggles for democracy but, in fact, they are only lusting for power to fulfil their interests.

For all intents and purposes, democracy has been put on the backburner. Politics in Pakistan is the domain of a few rich families and they continue to thrive in the name of democracy.