Editorial
For the last four decades, Pakistan’s democratic struggle has been less about democratic values and more about securing personal alliances with powerful generals and pliant judges. The narrative of democracy, justice, and civilian supremacy is often paraded in public, but in practice, these ideals are selectively pursued—only when the establishment is not aligned with a party’s interests.
Our political elites have turned democracy into a transactional arrangement. When courts pass favourable judgments, the judiciary is lauded as the guardian of justice. When verdicts go against them, it’s branded a “judicial coup.” Similarly, military support is welcomed when it facilitates power; otherwise, it becomes an “intervention.” This opportunistic approach has hollowed out the soul of democratic governance in Pakistan.
Instead of building institutions, political leaders have spent decades trying to build relationships—with “favourite” judges and “acceptable” generals. This has created a dangerous precedent where democratic legitimacy is derived not from the people, but from invisible assurances from power brokers. In such an environment, elections lose meaning, parliaments become dysfunctional, and justice becomes a tool of convenience.
Until our political class stops treating democracy as a personal project of power retention, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between controlled democracy and soft authoritarianism. A truly democratic order cannot coexist with the obsession of engineering favourable verdicts or backdoor deals. The litmus test of genuine democracy is the ability to uphold institutional integrity—even when it is politically inconvenient.
Pakistan does not need more political saviours with “approved” backing. It needs consistent adherence to democratic principles, respect for judicial independence, and a military that remains apolitical. Without these, our democratic struggles will remain shallow slogans, not transformative change.
#DemocracyInPakistan #CivilSupremacy #JudicialIndependence #PoliticalIntegrity
