PAKISTAN came into existence as a result of the democratic process, but here, true democracy has remained merely a concept and has never taken a concrete form. This is because it does not align with the feudal society. Democracy, which is based on popular sovereignty, where the will of the collective prevails instead of the will of one individual, and where the law is equal for everyone, cannot fully take root in a feudal society.
Even if democratic concepts influenced by new ideas from the modern era enter such a society, democracy remains only a concept and never becomes a societal attitude unless a fundamental change is brought to the social structure. However, we claim that we are a democratic country, but in terms of the necessary factors for the true development of a democratic nation, we lag far behind.
The success of democracy does not solely lie in the hands of politicians; its future flourishes with the participation of the entire society. Unlike a monarchy, where one person decides the fate of the country, democracy depends on the temperament of the entire society and nation. Since the centre of this system is the people, their role is the most important.
Therefore, the citizens of a democratic country must cultivate certain qualities within themselves, or else the goals for which this system was adopted will not be achieved. For democracy to develop, it is essential that all members of society fulfil their obligations honestly. First and foremost, there must be a change in attitude, and the attitude of democratic rulers is the most crucial. They must govern democratically, abide by the law as the common people do, and if they think they are above the law, the purpose of democracy is lost. Fundamentally, the attitude of the rulers should be based on even stronger democratic traditions than that of the public. However, if we observe the behaviour of our rulers, we still see autocratic thinking.
If we look closely, since the creation of Pakistan, powerful elites have continued to dominate the political scene in one form or another. Elite rule means the governance of certain individuals in the name of democracy. The elite are those who have not had to work hard for their livelihood and thrive on the labour and wealth of others. The middle and lower classes have only one asset: their abilities, as they survive on them, while the elite possess everything given by the Almighty—wealth, property, influence, etc.
A characteristic of elite politics is that leadership and rulership are not only their right but are inherited. This is the biggest obstacle to national development because political succession is passed on to their children, even when more capable individuals might exist in any party. Political inheritance is not passed to the deserving. This situation exists not only at the top but also at the grassroots level. As a result, true democracy has not taken root and now corruption allegations are beginning to surface against the rulers’ children.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Faisalabad.
