TOPIC: DEMOCRACY HAS FAILED TO DELIVER IN PAKISTAN

OUTLINE

1. Introduction
(a) Renaissance movement and emancipation of humans
(b) Emergence of democracy as a popular model for governance
(c) Pakistan emerged as democratic country
(d) What does it mean by democracy?

2. Indicators Evidencing the Failures of Democracy in Pakistan
(a) Absence of supremacy of parliament
(b) The lack of rule of law
(c) Rampant political corruption
(d) Marginalized civil society
(e) Dwindling public services

3. The Causes of the Failures of Democracy in Pakistan
(a) Institutional imbalance
(b) Military's involvement in politics
(c) Dynastic political party system
(d) Economic fragility
(e) Non-democratic social structures

4. Recommendations for Strengthening Democracy in Pakistan
(a) Harmonious civil-military relations
(b) Ensure good governance through rule of law
(c) Ensure economic growth
(d) Empowerment of Parliament
(e) Ensure free and fair elections through electoral reforms
(f) Ensure transparent intra-party elections

5. Conclusion





ESSAY

The Renaissance Movement in 15th and 16th centuries serves as a watershed epoch in the modern history, which heralded the emancipation of humans from the shackles of feudalism and totalitarian monarchies. With the rising current of the movement, erstwhile supine subjects were transformed into citizens. The most glaring component of this emancipation was the right of people to elect their rulers. This right has come to be known as the building block of modern democracy. The process of decolonization resulted in the emergence of a multitude of new democratic states in Asia and Africa. Pakistan emerged from the yoke of the British Empire as a democratic country in 1947. Democracy is defined as a form of political system in which people participate in the political process, enjoy basic liberties and fundamental rights. In the words of the famous American President, Abraham Lincoln, democracy is a form of government ''By the people, for the people and of the people.'' Pakistan's experience with democracy is riddled with incongruous military dictatorships. The constitution of the country has been abrogated twice (1958 and 1969) and suspended thrice (1977, 1999, 2007). Thus , for a larger part of its existence, Pakistan has been ruled by extra-constitutional means by the men in uniform. The failure of democracy to deliver in its letter and spirit in Pakistan is palpable. This failure is evidenced by the absence of supremacy of parliament, the lack of rule of law, an ineffective political class, an inefficient electoral system and growing socio-economic inequality in the society. Democracy in Pakistan has shown a glaring failure both in strengthening itself and in delivering for the well being of the people. However, this failure on the part of democracy is not without some crucial and deep-rooted political and social causes. The failure of democracy is caused due to institutional imbalance, military involvement in politics, weak political parties and spiraling political corruption. The problem has further been exacerbated by centralization and non-democratic social structures. The future of Pakistan lies in a strong democracy and if the tottering edifice of democracy is not readily remedied, it will result in the degeneration of the society and polity. There is a dire need to take several measures at the levels of state and society to remedy the problems being faced by democracy to strengthen it to a level where it can deliver for the people of Pakistan as it has delivered in other parts of the world. This essay attempts to discuss the failures of democracy in Pakistan, its causes and suggest a set of remedial measures to revitalize democracy to bring it in consonance with the wishes of people.