if we will analyse the hurdles before the development of democracy in Pakistan, we generally arrive to explain the following factors:

(1) ILLITERACY IN PAKISTAN:-

After almost sixty two years of the independence, Pakistan's half of the
population continues to be illiterate. Pakistan is the only nuclear power Islamic state. National security is given top priority in Pakistan, while the issues like education, employment, and health are not paid attention correctly and sincerely. Education, as we discussed above, is the first requisite of the success of democracy. It plays a very important role in making common citizens good, intelligent, honest, active, responsible, public-spirited, tolerant and vigilant for their rights and duties. Bit in Pakistan, it has been a neglected sector, especially in rural areas. Current literacy rate stands at 52 percent. Ills like child-begging is seen common even in the urban areas and developed cities. Either the parents or the state negligence are to be blamed for that curse. But whoever's fault is it, it has proven to be injurious to our democratic roots and infrastructure.
This is a very serious problem because it has strangulated the development of democracy in Pakistan.


(2) PEOPLE ARE NOT ENLIGHTENED ENOUGH:-

Actually, the lack of education has led us to serious lacks. One of them is the lack of enlightened people. The 48 percent of the population of Pakistan is uneducated and illiterate. They have no understanding of their rights and duties. They have no intelligence. They cannot understand the collective problems and solutions to these maladies. They are easily swayed by the shrewd and crafty politicians. Their opinions are not based on sound practical judgment, tolerance and unselfish devotion to public good. This is the very problem that has smothered the development of democratic spirit and practices in our country.


(3) INEFFICIENT LEADERSHIP:-

The lack of education and enlightened people has produced inefficient leaders in Pakistan. In Pakistan, any politician who is rhetorical, orator, and rabble-rouser is considered as a leader. As we discussed above, when the people are inactive, indifferent and indolent to public and state affairs, shrewd and cunning politicians, clever demagogues, rich plutocrats and such other enterprising persons capture political power and abuse it for their selfish ends. Pakistan has seen many such people (generally considered as leaders). Dynastic politics continues to hinder the emergence of new leaders. Since the very start, Pakistani politics has been dominated by the rulers who have been extremely selfish. From 1947 to 1970, there were no general elections in Pakistan. The people in power considered it a risk that could dethrone them. They continued to dominate the civil-military bureaucracy from where thy derived the prolongation of their power and regimes. After the elections of 1970, the selfish interests of some people in power led to the separation of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1971. Until today, Pakistan continues to have those people in power who hardly have any sense of EXIT. They do not want to be dislodged even at the cost of national survival. Hence, Pakistan continues to be in search of a leader who could lead us to the pinnacles of greatness as a nation-state.


(4) INEFFICIENT POLITICAL PARTIES:-

Pakistan has the multi-party system. There are so many political parties of local and national level that the general public is divided in their opinions. We have not been able to generate consensus on certain issues of local and national importance. These political parties are not only numerous but also they are undemocratic in structure and attitude. No party elections are held through which new and skillful leadership and talent could be generated. These parties continue to work on dynastic lines. Apart from being undemocratic in their attitude, structure and organisation, these political parties are also opposed to the party in power. They do not work as ''Loyal Opposition'' as in England and the USA. They are all sick of one another and united against the government. No doubt, all the political parties, through out the world, aim at gaining political power, but tolerance and patience are some of those principal values and principles of modern politics that without them, at least, democratic form of government cannot work successfully.


(5) FEUDALISM:-

Waderas of Sindh, Chaudharies of Pujnab, Nawabs and Sardars of Balochistan and Maliks of NWFP have also marred our political system. Most of them are also the important members of some political parties. They exercise influential roles in these political parties and the constituencies they belong to. They command unconditional support from the people of their constituencies. Those who do not vote them risk their lives. They are either got punished by the SHO of the local police station or they are murdered in order to teach the lesson to the rest of the people. Hence they control the will of their people.
Most of the feudals do not allow their people to get education. Because the think that it might lead to sagging of their influence. Depriving the people from getting education means depriving them from developing democratic spirit and approach. Such feudal ills have been serving as formidable barriers in the development of democracy in Pakistan.


(6) ROLE OF MILITARY:-

Since 1958 when the first Martial Law was imposed by General Ayub
Khan, military continues to play a very critical role in the state affairs even today.The defence and foreign policies of Pakistan are still formulated in of Rawalpindi. Pakistan has experienced three military rules: first from 1958 to 1971 by General Ayub Khan and General Yahya; second from 1977 to 1988 by General Zia-ul Haq; third from 1999 to 2008 by General Parvaiz Musharraf..These were the periods when the democracy in Pakistan suffered grave set backs. The constitutions in practice were trampled by the military rulers. New constitutional orders, emergencies and amendments were promulgated. Centre was made strong. Provincial harmony and autonomy were the important casualties. Parliamentary sovereignty remained a dream. Sectarianism and religious extremism took birth. Praetorian rule prevailed. Role of Political parties was diminished and political leaders were either arrested, hanged till death or sent into exile. No other thing has battered the development of democracy in Pakistan than the military dictatorship and frequent martial laws.

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Recite a Darood Shareef at least once and now.
(RAFIQUE AHMED KHOKHAR)