- Back to the future?
A process has been launched to nullify the achievements made during 2008-2018 that strengthened democracy.
Despite serious flaws in the working of the ruling parties, the decade of democracy (2008-18) is marked by significant attempts at bolstering the system. These include restoration of the constitution to its original shape, expanded provincial autonomy, an empowered Election Commission, rehabilitation of the independent judiciary and the emergence of the most vibrant media in the region. Important national issues considered a taboo were taken up by the Senate for debate and discussion while the upper house sought, and was provided, inputs by ‘sensitive’ government departments and important institutions of the state. There were hopes that with the support from all stake holders a mature parliamentary system would gradually evolve enabling the elected governments to retrieve their turf from un-elected institutions.
What was missing during the decade was responsiveness on the part of the ruling parties. The PPP neglected issues like power-cum-gas shortages, unemployment and poverty. While the PML-N made significant headway towards the resolution of the country’s power woes, it ignored education, provision of clean drinking water, creation of jobs and reduction of poverty. Throughout the ten years the governments paid no attention to some of the most urgent issues like population control. The PML-N neglected Parliament thus depriving itself of an important source of strength. Instead of taking the issues to Parliament the PTI relied on sit-ins thus weakening the system. The shortcomings on the part of the politicians have helped the powers that be to try to fully establish their dominance.
The current alliance between unelected institutions has led some to call it a ’judicial martial law’. The media is being pressured not to report the activities which the establishment arbitrarily considers ‘unpatriotic’ and not to publish comments which irk the establishment The entire accountability machinery is geared to the unraveling of one political party while another one is being pampered. Rights given to the citizens by the constitution are being violated. This gives one a sense of déjà vu. Those who matter need to be reminded that quasi democratic experiments made in the country have always had a short life.
