The political environment of countries having colonial background is turbulent, evolutionary, and chaotic to say the least. From coasts of South Africa to Himalayas in South Asia, country after country has been marred by the political and social unrest. While many attribute it to the factors and policies of the governments that came into power after the country’s creation, I continue to believe that some of this instability may be linked with the colonial psychology prevalent in the ruling elite of these highly exploited nations. Highly marginalizing institutions in these countries continue to make sure that income and power disparities are here to stay.
Pakistan has been a victim of foreign sanctions and enormous criticism from the so-called advocates of democracy since the time of its inception. A fact that goes unnoticed undetected and remains to be underlined is that considering the volatile geo-political and socio-economic environment of Pakistan, it has been necessary for the military to intervene at certain stages of history in our country. The ground realities continue to remain the same and the feudalist system continues to dominate and exploit the already poor faction of the society. Therefore we need to further look into the minor details that amalgamate into decisive factors that shape our country’s democratic future.
First of all the fundamental reason that most of the critics tend to overlook is the fact that institutions and socio-economic structures that govern Pakistan have not been changed entirely since partition in 1947. British created these systems to exploit the local population and left with these structures and institutions lingering on. Faces have changed but system has not. From East India Company to the current ruling elite of Pakistan, the two hundred year old history has much in common.
The ruling elite of Pakistan which consists of feudal lords, bureaucrats and military has its own vested interests. As far as democracy in Pakistan is concerned it has never been there. A brief look at the history of Pakistan’s parliament would reveal that not a single member of parliament has been from a middle-class family. The so-called democracy runs in a few highly esteemed families who own the lands or factories. The middle class and lower class have been exploited again and again by the elite so much so that there is a huge chasm between them and the bourgeoisie class now. It’s in the interest of ruling elite not to let the masses get educated. It is, therefore, made sure behind the closed doors of Parliament that no such policy is developed which enables the masses to be educated enough to differentiate between the right and wrong. The consequence is that peasants of such landlords are forced to vote for their respective landowners. Once in power they exploit and subjugate the people who have voted for them. Self interests are given the highest priority even above the country. The cycle continues.
Some people believe that Islam can be blamed for the absence of true democracy in Pakistan. The difference lies in the definition of democracy. Islam promotes democracy in a way that all the important decisions are taken by the people who know what is in the best interests of the masses, people who can think rationally and people who can think above themselves. This is something that hasn’t been happening in Pakistan, and that has lead Pakistan to current state of affairs. If democracy is all about giving the voting rights to uneducated, subjugated, marginalized and exploited people who can not differentiate between right and wrong, than I am afraid we can not expect any change in the socio-economic structure of Pakistan. Faces will keep on changing from Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to Benazir Bhutto and from Nawaz Sharif to Shahbaz Sharif but families will remain the same. The cycle will continue until there is a revolution or a military dictator who is willing to go against his own institution for betterment of the country. Till than we can sit in our luxurious homes and criticize Pakistan for not being a "Democratic State".
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