Democracy in Pakistan
GOVERNANCE AND DEMOCRACY IN PAKISTAN:
WEAKNESSES, STRENGTHS AND PROSPECTS
Abstract
Pakistan had no worthwhile civil society and hardly any middle class in 1947 due to rampant illiteracy and absence of an independent media. The masses were poor, the country was described an “economic desert” and there was an unprecedented influx of refugees. The country lacked the necessary infrastructure and institutions. The capability to develop them was lacking. The external and internal threats to the security of the country turned it into a security state. Weak political leadership created space for civil-military bureaucracy. This led to the cut-off periods in democratic governance, which was derailed thrice in 1958, 1977 and 1999. At present, the country is partially developed, the middle class is growing and civil society is assertive; a vibrant media has come up, and majority of the population is literate. There is an overall urge for peace. The people have demonstrated their preference for constitutional government and the rule of law, and to have an independent judiciary to strengthen democratic governance.
Introduction
Democratic governance implies a system of government in which all the people of a country can vote to elect their representatives, who in turn govern the country in the light of the mandate given to them by the people. Pakistan and India emerged as independent democratic nation-states in August 1947, inheriting the same constitution (i.e., Government of India Act 1935), the same system of civil administration, legal apparatus and the armed forces. But unlike India, the governance in Pakistan has been alternating between civilian democratic governments and military-dominated autocratic or partially democratic governments.1 After several pitfalls, Pakistan has reached a stage where it seems that the people of Pakistan, its vibrant middle class, the civil society, the intelligentsia and the media are convinced that the supremacy of the constitution,
WEAKNESSES, STRENGTHS AND PROSPECTS
Abstract
Pakistan had no worthwhile civil society and hardly any middle class in 1947 due to rampant illiteracy and absence of an independent media. The masses were poor, the country was described an “economic desert” and there was an unprecedented influx of refugees. The country lacked the necessary infrastructure and institutions. The capability to develop them was lacking. The external and internal threats to the security of the country turned it into a security state. Weak political leadership created space for civil-military bureaucracy. This led to the cut-off periods in democratic governance, which was derailed thrice in 1958, 1977 and 1999. At present, the country is partially developed, the middle class is growing and civil society is assertive; a vibrant media has come up, and majority of the population is literate. There is an overall urge for peace. The people have demonstrated their preference for constitutional government and the rule of law, and to have an independent judiciary to strengthen democratic governance.
Introduction
Democratic governance implies a system of government in which all the people of a country can vote to elect their representatives, who in turn govern the country in the light of the mandate given to them by the people. Pakistan and India emerged as independent democratic nation-states in August 1947, inheriting the same constitution (i.e., Government of India Act 1935), the same system of civil administration, legal apparatus and the armed forces. But unlike India, the governance in Pakistan has been alternating between civilian democratic governments and military-dominated autocratic or partially democratic governments.1 After several pitfalls, Pakistan has reached a stage where it seems that the people of Pakistan, its vibrant middle class, the civil society, the intelligentsia and the media are convinced that the supremacy of the constitution,