With better understanding of ourselves and the entire cosmic process of being and becoming, we have discovered the interrelationship of various categories of the process. Physical, biological, social, mental, intellectual and spiritual processes are deeply interlinked and progressively and dialectically related.
Therefore, in any discussion of human development, we have to consider all historical and objective factors; analyse the entire phenomena, discover the retarding factors in the process of unfolding; reason them, and ceaselessly strive to create the objective conditions for the flowering of a humane, just and realistically-free society.
Even though the people inhabiting Pakistan gained formal political independence, yet they could not participate in the decision-making process due to the internally-prevailing economic, social and political conditions and the polarisation of the world into two main camps.
Every camp strived to recruit followers and for that they tried every method. They bribed, aided and subverted the local leadership to toe their line. All liberation movements throughout the world were confronted with this difficulty.
In Pakistan, the economy was tribal and feudal, and the colonial legacy in the form of civil and military bureaucracy was strong. Hence, it never allowed for the economic development and emancipation of the people. Just as in colonial days, the partnership between civil and military bureaucrats and the subservient feudal and tribal leadership continued. The process was fortified by neo-colonial powers in our case. The neo-colonial rulers never allowed the process of democratisation.
This alliance of interests resulted in our membership of SEATO and CENTO, which were symbols of opposition to national liberation movements and democratisation. Pakistan served as a base for neo-colonial forces and, at times, allowed sham democracy to advance the interest of the alliance.
But the neo-colonial forces and their agents could not even tolerate that. Hence, the country continued to be ruled by the military, civil and subservient feudal and later commercial and neo-industrial interests. Though the world is no more polarised as before, yet we are trapped in economic backwardness and weak political institutions. The only institution which is strong is bureaucracy and its feudal sycophants and spineless commercial/industrial interests.
The role of the people has been retarded and may not emerge as sharer or participant in the decision-making process. The people are oppressed, excluded and are being callously exploited. An oligarchy rules arbitrarily and the people are denied their right to govern themselves. Any talk of devolution of power and resources in this context is simply misleading. District, provincial or central governments are all created and manipulated by the oligarchy.
The only way to have real democracy is to enable the deprived to own the means and instruments of all democratic institutions, their development and management. Hence, Pakistan needs leaders and leadership and not rulers. We have the vision.
SYEDA SARAH HAIDER
Karachi
