The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) organised a national roundtable discussion on the topic, “How to assess the quality of democracy in Pakistan” at a local hotel on Monday. Speakers said that the literacy rate should increase in order to improve the quality of democracy in Pakistan, whereas, others insisted that vote casting should be made compulsory to achieve the desired results. Senior journalist Mujibur Rehman Shami said that things have improved a lot since he started journalism.
Colonel (r) Ikramullah said that the government should improve basic things and then think of competing with developed countries adding that countries, where democracy is flourishing, have literacy rates of more than 85 percent. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader Samia Raheel Qazi said that students must be trained in varsities for development of leadership qualities in them. She said that China starts political training of youngsters in varsities. Qazi said that we should observe why western democracy is successful and point out indicators of a successful democratic system. Speakers said that we have to solve basic problems of the public after which they will be interested in the election procedure. Some speakers criticised the present democratic system and termed it as “sham democracy” adding that until deserving people did not reach parliament, democracy could not flourish in the country.
PILDAT’s role for legislative development was appreciated by the participants. Speakers said that these types of forums should be held frequently in order to improve the quality of democracy in Pakistan. They also urged the media to play its part in strengthening democracy adding that the line of national interests should be drawn. A Government College University (GCU) political science professor said that dynastic rule should end in democracy and education should prevail in society. Speakers urged political parties to financially support their candidates during elections adding that there is a need to cut the cost of election campaigns. Concluding the discussion, former National Assembly (NA) speaker Elahi Bakhsh Soomro said that he has never seen such a fruitful roundtable discussion.