Elections - the ultimate gamble!

Many believe and rightly so that the upcoming elections would be the crucial milestone in Pakistan’s democratic history. It would be the first time that a democratic government (without a general sitting in its driving seat) will complete its five years tenure and will held elections to transfer powers to another democratically elected government. This democratic transfer, if hopefully is made rightly would mark Pakistan’s first ever democratic transition and it could bring Pakistan to new horizons of democracy where the chances of military rule are minimized by transfer of power to sovereign parliament and not otherwise.

Although elections held in 2008 were considered pretty fair and democratic as well yet there were few big hiccups which can defame the claim altogether, like the elections were actually held under the rule of a military dictator and not under a democratic regime. And there was the fact that leaders of two biggest political parties PPP and PML (N) were out of the game for so long that they had difficulties gathering and consolidating their political parties. Also many political parties boycotted the 2008 elections which make these elections look not so unbiased and fair as they claim to be.

This time around however, most of the pre-conditions for a democratic transition are being met quite effectively. One of which, is the presence and action of multiple democratic parties playing their role on the political saga. The good thing about it is that most of these, rather almost all of these are nationalist parties and not regional ones so they represent the interests of their people at a national level. Also, this time around most of these parties are fully functional and politically free to cast their spell around and exercise their political rights to attract masses. So now with these preconditions met can we believe that the upcoming elections would change the fate of Pakistan for good and would transform her into a democratic being?
Maybe, maybe not!

So yes these elections are going to be a milestone in a journey towards a stable democratic Pakistan but there are a lot of things to upset all this up. First and foremost the institutional makeup of Pakistan is not democratic itself. The unjustified and excessive role of military and establishment in governmental affairs have such a long history and deep roots that it is difficult for power to be rested in a sovereign parliament when there are parallel bodies to claim power. Secondly, the elitist rulers in Pakistan enjoy the free reign of no accountability whatsoever. Since the judiciary have just held its ground recently and the other fragile law enforcement institutions like that of police are strained with massive corruption allegations and are pressed under political pressure, there is little hope if any, to enforce a strong apparatus of accountability for such elitist groups. Another factor in connection to accountability which disrupts the democratic framework is that the political actors who win through elections have no interest in pursuing the agenda which they made in the first place to win votes of the masses. Since there is such a weak sate institutional make up in Pakistan that it holds little accountability propositions for democratically elected representatives to actually represent the interests of their people and not of their own, hence there is little implementation of it.

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Author: Maliha Naveed
Posted On: Saturday, December 29, 2012
Source: Pakistan Herald