Tariq Mahmood Awan

In the contemporary world, there has yet to be a consensus on the quality of the form of government. A government is a system of charge for a nation, state, or another political division. Governance is accountable for designing and enforcing the rules of society, defence, foreign affairs, the economy, and general services. While all governments’ responsibilities are similar, those duties are executed in diverse ways, relying on the form of government. Different types of governance models comprise a direct democracy, a representative democracy, socialism, communism, a monarchy, an oligarchy, and an autocracy. Then, constitutionally, Pakistan is a federal republic; thus, democracy is supposed to be the form of governance.

Democracy in Pakistan is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon influenced by various social, cultural, federal, geographical, historical, economic, political and human rights aspects. Therefore, there is a need to critically evaluate the significance of democracy in Pakistan from these perspectives. Democracy in Pakistan is shaped by the country’s diverse and heterogeneous social structure, consisting of different ethnic, linguistic, religious and sectarian groups. Some of these groups have been marginalized and discriminated against by the dominant groups or the state, leading to social unrest and violence. Democracy in Pakistan has failed to address the grievances and aspirations of these groups and has often been manipulated by the elites to serve their interests.

Then, democracy in Pakistan also faces challenges from the conservative and patriarchal norms and values that prevail in the society, which limit the participation and representation of women, minorities and other vulnerable segments. Democracy in Pakistan needs to foster a culture of tolerance, pluralism and inclusion that respects the diversity and dignity of all citizens. Democracy in Pakistan is also influenced by the country’s rich and varied cultural heritage, which reflects the influences of various civilizations and regions that have interacted with the land over centuries. Pakistan’s culture is also influenced by Islam, which is the state religion and the source of identity for most Pakistanis. However, there are different interpretations and manifestations of Islam among other sects and schools of thought, which sometimes create conflicts and tensions among them. Democracy in Pakistan has to balance the role of Islam as a unifying force and a source of values with the need to protect the rights and freedoms of all citizens regardless of their faith or belief. Democracy in Pakistan also has to promote and preserve the cultural diversity and creativity of the country, which are essential for its social cohesion and development.

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Pakistan is a historical federation, and most federal states keep democracy as a form of governance to unite the people of different areas, cultures and divisions. Democracy in Pakistan is based on a federal system that divides power between the central government and the four provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The federal system is meant to accommodate the regional differences and demands of the provinces, which have their own histories, cultures, languages and resources. However, the federal system has been marred by conflicts and imbalances between the centre and the provinces over resource allocation, autonomy, representation and security issues. Democracy in Pakistan has often been undermined by the interference of the central government or the military in provincial affairs or by the secessionist movements or insurgencies in some provinces. Democracy in Pakistan needs to strengthen the federal system by ensuring fair and transparent distribution of resources, administrative federalism, devolution of power, protection of provincial rights and interests, and resolution of inter-provincial disputes through dialogue and cooperation.

Furthermore, democracy in Pakistan is affected by its geographical location and features, which pose opportunities and challenges for its political development. Pakistan is situated at a strategic crossroads between South Asia, Central Asia, China and the Middle East, which gives it a significant role in regional and international affairs. However, this also exposes it to external pressures and threats from its neighbours, especially India and Afghanistan, with whom it has unresolved disputes over territory, water and security. Democracy in Pakistan has to deal with these external challenges while maintaining good relations with its allies and partners. Pakistan also has a diverse and varied geography, including mountains, plains, deserts, rivers, and coasts. This geography offers natural resources, agricultural potential and tourism attractions for the country’s economy. However, it also creates environmental problems such as floods, droughts, earthquakes and climate change that affect the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. Democracy in Pakistan has to address these environmental issues by adopting sustainable policies and practices that protect the environment and ensure its equitable use for present and future generations.

Historical aspects are always critical to developing the indigenous form of governance. Democracy in Pakistan is influenced by the historical events and experiences that have shaped its political trajectory since its independence in 1947. Pakistan was created as a homeland for Muslims who wanted a separate state from India based on their religious identity. However, this identity was not enough to keep the country united as it split into two parts: East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and West Pakistan (now Pakistan) after a bloody civil war in 1971. Democracy in Pakistan has to overcome this historical trauma by fostering a sense of national unity among its diverse peoples. Pakistan has also witnessed several military coups that have interrupted its democratic process and imposed authoritarian regimes that violated human rights, curbed civil liberties, manipulated institutions and corrupted politics. Democracy in Pakistan has to recover from this historical legacy by ensuring civilian supremacy, accountability, rule of law and constitutionalism.

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Democracy in Pakistan is linked to the economic performance and prospects of the country, which affect its stability and legitimacy. Pakistan’s economy has faced various challenges, such as low growth, high inflation, fiscal deficit, debt burden, trade imbalance, energy crisis, poverty and inequality. These challenges have hampered the delivery of essential services and opportunities to the people, especially the poor and marginalized sections of society. Democracy in Pakistan has to address these economic challenges by pursuing sound and inclusive policies that promote growth, development, employment, investment, innovation and social welfare. Pakistan’s economy also has potential and opportunities, such as a large population, a young workforce, a strategic location, a vibrant diaspora and a resilient private sector. Democracy in Pakistan has to harness these potential and opportunities by creating an enabling environment that encourages entrepreneurship, competitiveness, productivity and diversification.

Political dynamics are always vital for shaping a country’s functional form of governance. Democracy in Pakistan is based on a parliamentary system that allows for the representation and participation of various political parties and actors in the country’s governance. The system is meant to ensure checks and balances among the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, as well as respect for the rights and freedoms of the citizens. However, the system has been plagued by problems such as weak institutions, political instability, corruption, nepotism, factionalism, violence and polarization. Democracy in Pakistan has been undermined by the interference of non-democratic forces such as the military, the bureaucracy, the judiciary and other institutions. The role of bureaucracy has been obstructive. They have always attracted the political executive and never allowed the democratic institutions to strengthen themselves. Democracy in Pakistan has to overcome these problems by strengthening the institutions, enhancing the transparency, accountability and responsiveness of the government, promoting the culture of democracy, tolerance and dialogue among the political parties and actors, and protecting the sovereignty and integrity of the country from internal and external threats.

Why do most countries implement democracy as a form of governance? They complement democracy critically because of Human rights factors. Democracy in Pakistan depends on respecting and protecting human rights for all its citizens without discrimination. Human rights are essential for ensuring dignity, justice and equality for every individual in the society. However, human rights in Pakistan have been violated by both government and non-government actors on various grounds such as religion, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class and profession. Human rights violations in Pakistan include unlawful practices, torture, arbitrary detention, harsh prison conditions, political repression, censorship, violence against women, minorities and vulnerable groups, trafficking in persons, child labour and forced labour. Democracy in Pakistan has to address these human rights violations by implementing its national and international obligations, establishing effective mechanisms for monitoring and redressal of human rights abuses, raising awareness and education on human rights among the public and officials, and ensuring participation and empowerment of civil society groups and human rights defenders.

Lastly, democracy in Pakistan will only strengthen when all branches of government, the legislature, executive and judiciary, work in their ambit and concede to the will of the people. Democracy means devolution, representation, participation and accountability by the people. The people should have the fundamental right to elect their governments, hold them accountable and change them at will. The foremost reason for a democracy in Pakistan is the federal form of governance. A federal state of governance can only function with participatory and representative democracy.

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