Democracy in Pakistan

Shoukat Ali Bugti

Any kind of governing system of a state or country can’t be bad or good. If depends on rulers of that state or country, how they comply with system. Today’s modern world has opinion that democracy is much better then monarchy, dictatorship and other kind of such ruling systems. This is absolutely right, but if you have a glance at history, you will find so many states or counties, where rulers were emperors or any one kind of dictators, they were much beneficial for the people of that state or country then today’s modern democratic rulers.

Shair Shah Suri’s empire in Indian subcontinent is famous for his good governance and development of people. His ruling period was only five years, but world praises his administration, statesmanship and public works even today. He built GT Road, which connects Peshawar and Lahore and goes to Indian cities Amritsar to Calcutta, famous Rohtas Fort and started postal system in subcontinent. Shair Shah Suri was not an elected prime minister or president of that state; He was an Afghan warrior and a able person. He defeated Mughals and became emperor, by virtue of his ability.

Moreover, even today, there are so many countries, where there is no democracy but monarchy system, such as Saudi Arabia. If you compare the life style or prosperity of that country with a so called democratic country like Pakistan, you will find that country is more civilized and prosperous then Pakistan.

These examples do not mean that democracy is wrong and one should support monarchy system in Pakistan. In fact, any kind of ruling system even democracy could not survive or be beneficial unless it’s not implemented sincerely without any personal benefit. If any system is implemented partially, like democratic system in Pakistan then it will no longer survive or could be beneficial for the people.

No doubt, in modern world, democracy is a good system, most of the countries of the world became developed by following democratic rules, but unfortunately in Pakistan, it is still failed.

When Pakistan got freedom and started his democratic journey, in the beginning, its two sincere leaders Quaid e Azam and Liaquat Ali khan died. After that, few elite families occupied the government, politics, agricultural lands and whole wealth of the country, that occupation is still continuing. The so called democracy has been continuing with some intervals but democratic rulers did nothing except looting the national wealth. Their achievement about development of country and people is zero. If someone ask them, why they did nothing, they argue that their democratic governments were overthrown at middle of their tenure by dictators.

Politicians now don’t have argument that military dictators didn’t let them to govern and military derailed democracy in the middle of their government tenure because its being eight years that democratic system is enforced.

So called drama of democracy should be stopped, if one wants to bring real democracy in Pakistan, then they should full fill the needs of democracy. Present traders like politicians will never bring real democracy in Pakistan.