An introduction to different forms of governments & which should be the best in Pakistan.

Desk

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Barrister Roman Awan

Form of government refers to the method through which a country is governed or managed. The most common forms of government include democracy, monarchy, socialism, communism, and dictatorship. Each of these forms has its advantages and drawbacks.

Democracy, for example, is a system of government that involves the participation of citizens in decision-making processes. In a democratic government, decisions are made through free and fair elections and referendums. The government is usually led by a president or prime minister who is elected by the people. In this form of government, there is freedom of speech, expression, assembly and movement.

Monarchy is a system of government where the monarch is the head of state, and power is usually passed down through family lines. The monarch holds power over the country and has the final say in all significant political decisions. In most countries with a monarchy, executive power is often shared with elected officials or a parliament.

Socialism is a form of government where the state has significant control over economic and social policies. This system tends to focus on equal allocation of resources in the quest to provide equal opportunity for everyone. In this form of government, the wealth of the society is distributed equally among all its members.

Communism is a form of government that takes socialism to an extreme by completely eliminating private ownership of businesses and properties. In a communist government, there is no marketplace, and every person is given equivalent treatment and financial resources. In this form of government, the state controls all property, the means of production, communication, and the distribution of goods and services.

Dictatorship is a form of government where one person holds absolute power over the country. The ruler has complete control over the government, and there is no participation from citizens. Citizens of a dictatorship don’t have a choice and usually have no freedom to express their opinions.

In Pakistan, both parliamentary and presidential forms of government have been practiced at different times. The parliamentary form of government is where the prime minister is the head of the government, and the parliament exercises legislative and executive powers. The presidential form of government is where the president is both the head of state and government, and the executive powers are vested in the president.

The choice between a parliamentary and presidential form of government in Pakistan is subjective, and both have their advantages and drawbacks. However, in my opinion, the parliamentary form of government is better for Pakistan because it ensures greater accountability of the government to the people. A parliamentary system allows for broader participation in governance and facilitates stable governance as compared to a presidential system. Additionally, a parliamentary form of government is people representative whereas presidential system is more executive oriented.

Lastly, systems are means not ends. The end is good governance & service delivery. Then, systems are secondary & implementers are primary. Systems depend upon who run them. Therefore, it’s important in Pakistan that democratic forces run the governance system. Institutions should not intervene in the matters of civil political systems.
The evolutionary growth of a political system is critical. Therefore, consistency in electioneering is instrumental. The will of the people is supreme. Political systems are directly dependent upon the will and accountability of the people. Therefore, the debate between presidential and parliamentary systems should convert into people’s right to elect their representatives. The will & choice of people should determine the governments. If once it is achieved, the evolutionary system shall continue to deliver.