Corruption, poverty, hunger, and loss of lives is the price we always pay for democracy. Rampant corruption in so called civilian regimes has been a major road block in the process of national development. Pakistan lacks the necessary democratic values (civil and human rights abuse is rampant, freedom of speech and expression is hampered, lack of social security, lack of education and healthcare, distributive justice and credible political opposition, etc), hence the rampant social unrest in the polity. While some sections of the society abhor the taking of human life, others (either because of their religious belief or fighting proxy war of some big powers) perceive the ‘killing of people in the name of Allah’ as a ‘religious duty. The problems of poverty and injustice are good part of Pakistan, and the citizens do not seem to understand what is in their culture that prevents them from achieving a just, prosperous, dignified life and true democracy. Discrimination, ethnicity, provincialism and poverty are closely related, as they affect the people’s ability to secure employment and earn a living. Consequently, many people are concerned more by their daily struggle for economic survival than the empty term-democracy, which they believe would not feed them.
Ethical crisis and fraud perpetrated mostly by the lawmakers in outgoing regime remained approaching an alarming proportion. This included politics of greed and lust for power, financial scams, electoral frauds, political intolerance, thugs and political assassinations strewn all over the landscape. Pakistan is a place where political leaders with access to national treasury convert public funds to private use; it is a place where the Presidency works to undermine anti-corruption campaign; and it is a society with corrupt lower judiciary. Some more than Rupees 18000 billion were looted by the PPP leaders in five years but nobody / no institution is there to take notice of it. Bureaucratic and electoral corruption, bribery and fraud, embezzlement and extortion with favoritism and nepotism are widespread on the political scene. The politicians merely use the word “democracy” is about as powerful as an agent of confusion.
In fact our system is based on self interest as opposed to public interest. It is that system that says private enterprise should play the leading role in the economy instead of the state playing leading role in the economy, merely because more than 90 percent production business is owned and controlled by the ruling elite itself. This corruption, stealing and criminal waste of resources are part and parcel of the same thing, result from this cruel system.
Illiteracy and ignorance is an obstacle to the nation’s quest for true democracy, as bigots and political opportunists pandering to ethnicity and sectarianism manipulate them to cause mischief in the society. It is appropriate to note that in fact more than seventy percent of our population is illiterate. Thus, a certain level of education is the only way to enable the citizens to differentiate right from wrong and evaluate the principles of political leaders and political office seekers so as to make an informed political decision. Regrettably, political parties and politicians in Pakistan are not ideologically ingrained. Unfortunately for Pakistan, the beat goes on and none of the big politicians is ready to make any sacrifice for the nation.
I know that no country has ever prospered without the love and patriotism of its leaders and citizens. The situation where political parties and those elected to manage the affairs of the nation do not represent nothing other than bribery and corruption make the sustenance of true democracy impracticable. A good Society starts from good people. The people we consider to be ‘leaders’ are the real problem of Pakistan. Yes our politicians are major cause for our backwardness. Most of them are not well educated. It is astonishing that the constitution is interpreted and advocated by the best of minds but those who are legislating require no qualification. For the development of the nation we should need good political leaders they should be well educated and young and also work for the development also against corruption. Political polarization, country witnessed in the recent past, is due to the political leaders who pursued politics of hatred and vengeance throughout. The past so called democratic governments emerged as a result of sham democracy, which put the country on path of disaster. The aggrieved, deprived and victimized masses have now no option other than to say goodbye to old corrupt leaders forever. I dream of a day we can install our most vibrant people at the helm of affairs instead of looking at personalities. We should ask what candidates will bring to the table, how they will use the power, authority and immense resources within their influence and control to improve, empower and better the lives of millions of impoverished masses.
They should be the people who have established themselves before coming into government and not those who would need government to transform their own lives. They must be great visionaries and not men of tiny dreams. They should encourage transparency, accountability, the rule of law, respect for human rights, civic participation, and civic inclusiveness — all of which are necessary for securing economic productivity, equitable distribution and state legitimacy. Another problem needs to be addressed during coming elections is not just throwing in good people, change the system. Let the people elect their representative quite independently, and then good people can show up. I pray for the day when we will arrive at such culture of thinking and habit. I believe we will get there soon. The coming election would just be a beginning, if the nation elected its leaders wisely.
