Here we will discuss the Democracy Of Pakistan Essay. The progress of democracy in Pakistan has been irregular and unsatisfactory for several different reasons that we will discuss in this article. At the start, it may be clearly emphasized that according to the objective resolution passed by the Constituent Assembly in 1949 that Pakistan was a completely democratic system of government within an Islamic framework. Firstly, the successful working of democracy anywhere is possible when the people, as a whole are educated and well-informed. It is the ugliest fact of our social life that more than 80 percent of our people are either thoroughly illiterate or only some of them know how to write their names or how to write the basic ABC. Secondly, in Pakistan the existence of the formidable feudal system allowed the big landlords to control and direct the lives of millions of farm laborers. As we know the general elections of Pakistan 2013 will be held in the month of May. Now the question is that what is the Democracy Of Pakistan Essay? In this informative article, we will discuss the importance of and Democracy Of Pakistan Essay. The word democracy means people’s rights and representation. On the other hand, dictatorship means absolute power as well as totalitarianism. If we analyze the main difference between democracy and dictatorship then we should say that there is huge difference between these two terms.
We would like to mention that in Pakistan democracy needs time in order to spread its roots. Moreover, the democratic system in Pakistan has gone through a maximum period of evolution. The most important reason that Pakistan has a weak democratic system is the lack of political leadership in Pakistan. Pakistan has so many politicians and few statesmen. Pakistan desperately needs great leaders like Churchill and Lincoln. But unfortunately, Pakistan got people such as Ayub, Iskandar Mirza, and Zia. Pakistan needs a man who looks at the past and strives in order to secure the future of Pakistan. Moreover, Pakistan needs leaders who are willing to sacrifice their wealth, lives, and health for Pakistan. Furthermore, the role of ISI plays a major and negative obstruction in the Democracy Of Pakistan Essay. We would like to mention that Pakistan Premier Spy Agency has funded parties, had different rigged elections, and created so many problems in the past few years. If we talk about an outside situation then they show a very strong look but on the other hand when we look inside then the picture is not very impressive. When any politician enters into the corridors of power then the most important thing in his mind is corruption.
On the whole, after discussing the above-mentioned Democracy Of Pakistan Essay it is easy to conclude that it’s the need of the great hour that Pakistan needs a strong democratic system. It is only possible if honest politician takes responsibility for Pakistan. In short, the success of Pakistan’s democracy holds great importance and significance.
Failure of Democracy in Pakistan
Pakistan is a semi-democratic country. Pakistan does not have a fully established democracy because it is facing many challenges in achieving a stable and effective democratic system. Jinnah’s death in 1948 soon after the independence of Pakistan (1947) created a leadership vacuum that contributed to the failure of democracy in Pakistan.
This was largely due to the lack of strong political leadership following his death and the absence of a single individual who could effectively bring together all of the disparate factions of the Pakistani political landscape. The other major challenges that have led to failed democracy in Pakistan are mentioned below;
Students who are getting an education in different grades like Matric, Inter, and Graduation and others who do CSS or PMS are now looking for material about this topic. So, all material is mentioned because this is one of the major topics.
Military Intervention in Political Affairs of Pakistan
The military has been a powerful force in Pakistan since the country’s founding in 1947. The military has been accused to suppress democracy by overthrowing elected governments, imposing martial law, and suppressing civil liberties. The military’s influence in Pakistan has been detrimental to democracy.
The military has been accused of using its power to suppress democracy, manipulate elections, and restrict freedom of expression. This has led to a lack of transparency and accountability, as well as a lack of trust in the government. As a result, democratic institutions have been weakened, economic growth has been limited, and social change has been hindered.
The solution to this problem is for the military to move away from politics and focus on its core mission of defending the nation. The military should build better relationships with the civilian government and work with them to strengthen democratic institutions and foster a culture of respect for civilian rule.
- Hyper Nationalism & Democratization Failure
Hypernationalism in Pakistan has been a major source of instability since the country’s inception in 1947. This form of extreme nationalism has been exploited by successive governments in the pursuit of political power and to distract attention away from other social issues. As a result, democratic institutions and processes have been undermined, leading to a lack of genuine representation and participation in the political system.
- Stroking Religious Tensions
The government has also used hyper-nationalism to stoke religious tensions, leading to a polarization of society and a decline in social cohesion or solidarity. This has been particularly evident in the form of state-sponsored Islamist movements, which have undermined the rule of law and encouraged an atmosphere of intolerance and violence.
- Mistreatment of Minorities
Hypernationalism has been used to justify violations of human rights by the extremists, such as the mistreatment of minorities and the suppression of dissent. This has led to a lack of trust in the government, resulting in a breakdown in the rule of law and a decline in the quality of democracy.
- Violent and Corrupt Political Culture of Pakistan
Pakistan has a long history of political violence and a culture of corruption that has long held back the development of its democracy. The lack of an effective political system has led to powerful individuals and groups being able to influence political decisions.
This has resulted in a lack of accountability and transparency in government which leaves citizens feeling powerless and frustrated. In addition, the country has struggled to create an environment of political pluralism, with different types of political parties having difficulty competing for power.
To address these problems, such as hyper-nationalism and violent, corrupt political culture, the government must focus on creating an environment of tolerance, respect, and accountability. This includes strengthening the rule of law and ensuring that all citizens have access to justice and equal rights and the government must ensure that all political parties are free to compete for power and that the political process is open and transparent. Only then can the country move forward and its democracy can truly flourish.
- Terrorism & Democratization Failure
Terrorism has posed a major challenge to the country’s democratic efforts. It caused a great deal of violence, fear, and instability throughout the country and hampered the ability of the government to effectively govern the country. Terrorists have targeted civilians, politicians, security forces, and other important figures in the country. This has caused widespread distrust of the government and a lack of confidence in its ability to protect its citizens.
Furthermore, the presence of terrorist organizations has made it difficult for political parties to reach out to the people and carry out their campaigns. Terrorism has also caused a great deal of economic hardship in the country. The threat of terrorism has caused many foreign investors to pull out of the country which has had a devastating effect on the economy.
In order to address this issue, the Pakistani government must take steps to combat terrorism. Which includes strengthening the security apparatus, pursuing a more effective counter-terrorism strategy, and investing in counter-radicalization programs.
- Lack of Institutional Counterbalance
The lack of institutional counterbalance in Pakistan has been a major contributing factor that has made it difficult for the country’s democracy to thrive. Without the ability to check and balance the power of the executive, the government is free to ignore the laws and manipulate the electoral process to ensure its own power.
This has resulted in a lack of accountability, corruption, and political instability. The lack of strong civil society organizations and labor unions has prevented citizens from exercising their rights and holding the government accountable for its policies and actions. All of these factors have contributed to the failure of democracy in Pakistan.
The solution to this problem is to strengthen the institutions of democracy in Pakistan. This includes strengthening the independence of the judiciary, providing greater autonomy to the provincial governments, encouraging participatory decision-making, and increasing accountability and transparency. Additionally, it is important to ensure that resources are equitably distributed so that all citizens have access to basic services and economic opportunities.
- Economic Instability in Pakistan
The instability of the economy has had a major impact on democracy in Pakistan. Since its inception in 1947, Pakistan has gone through multiple economic downturns, including a period of slow growth, high inflation, and rising unemployment. This has caused a decline in public confidence in the government, leading to increased levels of distrust and dissatisfaction among the citizens.
Moreover, the lack of economic opportunities has also led to political unrest and a rise in extremism. This has resulted in a weakened political system and has significantly hindered the development of a functioning democratic state.
In order to address this issue, the Pakistani government must focus on implementing comprehensive economic reforms, such as reducing public debt, reforming the tax system, and improving the country’s business environment, etc… Additionally, the government must prioritize job creation and promote entrepreneurship, focus on strengthening the financial sector, providing access to credit, and increasing access to financial services.
Digital Democracy in Pakistan
Rapid digitization is transforming almost every aspect of life on the globe, from the economy to governance to the interaction of the citizens. The Internet is the largest and most powerful connecting link ever invented by man. It has a huge impact on everyone’s life. Whether elections, governance, communication, knowledge exchange, shopping, entertainment, or even cultural interactions. Further, Digital Democracy in Pakistan is described below.
In a digitally-driven society, the emergence of technology has given birth to digital democracy. From e-voting, online discussion, e-commerce, and decision-making to online tax payment and obtaining a driver’s license everything in a digital democracy revolve around technology.
any advanced countries have chosen the digital democracy system and have made significant progress. The main strength of a digitally well-equipped state is that it adapts digital democratic practices to provide transparency, accountability, performativity, and mass engagement in socio-political and economic practices or processes.
Digital Landscape of Pakistan
In Pakistan, digital technology has changed the way people live and work. With a population of over 200 million people, Pakistan’s digital landscape has expanded. Over 165 million mobile phone customers, 70 million active internet users, and 60 million Smartphone users live in the country.
Digital Media`s Role in Democracy
The role of social media in changing regimes, toppling governments, and bringing social change to society is important and it is the supporting wheel in a digital democracy. In Pakistan, social media encourages young people to participate in politics. The majority of young people are using it to engage in political involvement which helps to enhance the democratic process. Citizen’s democratic engagement is being facilitated by social media which is promoting democratic dialogue.
Social Media & Pakistan Democracy
In this digital age, social media is widely regarded as a powerful tool for political communication around the globe. It has also transformed the way people talk about politics in Pakistan. Political figures have used social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to address political problems with their followers. Social media is the most effective tool for improving democracy.
Furthermore, in recent years it has made political leaders in democratic regimes more accountable. For Pakistan’s youth, social media is now providing a greater grasp of the country’s political structure. Users particularly youth are active on social media. Both male and female teenagers are using social media for political purposes. Furthermore, youngsters are using social media to raise political awareness about the voting process, political leaders, and political parties which is strengthening Pakistan’s democracy.
Challenges of Implementing Digital Democracy in Pakistan
As Pakistan is a developing country with limited technology infrastructure, it has numerous hurdles in implementing digital democracy across the country. Pakistan has a scarcity of wide-ranging technology networks or availability, and the country also has a low degree of digital literacy.
- There are still certain locations in Pakistan that do not have access to the Internet. Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan, Kashmir, and the frontier Regions are notable examples in this regard.
- As a result, these areas lose their ability to exercise democratic rights such as access to the internet and participation in political processes.
- Due to security concerns, internet services have been stopped in some areas across Pakistan. Digital democracy in Pakistan cannot work properly in such an ad hoc environment.
How can we overcome the challenges?
Choosing or practicing true digital democracy in Pakistan requires sincere efforts. If Pakistan intends to adopt true digital democracy policies for digital democracy must be developed and implemented across the country. There should be equal access to the internet connection and a network of technology infrastructure across the country.
In this context, the provision of digital skills and training services would be transformative in the digitization process. But, first and foremost a digital and technological chain or network across the country is required for digital democracy.
To combat Internet-related crimes and challenges a cyber security cell, similar to a cyber-troops mechanism should be established. Overall, if a country is serious about taking timely actions, the web of technology counts the most in this process and practice to support the flourishing of democratic culture.
