The Fallen Agents of Democracy

Ishtiaq Ahmed

There are many damaging aspects of the current political malaise in Pakistan but perhaps the most damaging is the loss of public faith in politicians and the political institutions- the supposed agents of democracy.

The politicians are grossly distrusted and the institutions are generally regarded as being dysfunctional and in disarray. This has made the road to democracy even more treacherous and more uncertain that no one can truly say with any confidence where may it lead to.

The toxic political environment is suffocating the debate on real challenges facing the country. The fact that the country is facing financial ruin with depleted reserves and mounting financial foreign debt, a shrinking economy, and mass unemployment with millions pushed to live in acute poverty, doesn’t seem to be on the political radar.

The toxic political environment is suffocating the debate on real challenges facing the country.

What we do see and hear are blames and counter-blames-political factions accusing each other of corruption, criminality and dishonesty, shamelessly presenting themselves to be more loyal, more honest and blemishless compared to their opponents. Political differences have turned to personal vendettas.

Many would rightly contend that this is nothing new, in fact, this has been the bread and butter of politics in Pakistan for the past seven decades where no civilian government has been allowed to complete to its full constitutional term.

This may very well be true but we are seeing something significantly different this time around in Pakistan. It all started with the first-ever successful vote of no-confidence last year in the PTI government which saw IK walking out of the parliament – the elected chamber- preferring to take their political agitation to the streets.

For me, this was a complete aberration of democracy. It went on to suggest that the supreme elected chamber in the land, the preserve of the democratic tradition, lacked authority and integrity to resolve political fallouts on the floor of the elected chamber.

Political incriminations have always provided the subtext to political rivalries in Pakistan but in the past, some restraint and decorum was shown towards key institutions. This time around, however, the Parliament, the judiciary, the army and law enforcement agencies have not been spared either. The attacks on these have become more visible, more direct and more vicious by political factions across the board.

It went on to suggest that the supreme elected chamber in the land, the preserve of the democratic tradition, lacked authority and integrity to resolve political fallouts on the floor of the elected chamber.

For example, PTI, after suffering the indignity of vote of no-confidence accused the Supreme Court of political bias and favouritism. However, following the IK’s recent arrest and hastened release, the incumbent PDA accused the Chief Justice of political partisanship. Incensed by the decision of the Chief Justice to release IK, the leaders of the incumbent government sponsored a public protest demanding the resignation of the Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial. The relationship and the treatment of other key institutions is no different and definitely on a downward sliding slope.

The result of all this is that the principal institutions that hitherto were generally regarded as being above direct political affiliation have been maligned and brought into political disrepute.

A very good example of this is the somewhat precarious position of the ECP.  It is true that the ECP on occasion could have been more judicious in discharging of its role but, nonetheless, it is the principal institution for regulating and facilitating elections that are deemed the foundation for any semblances of democracy.

Yet, the ECP is so discredited, not by the public but the very political parties who are the beneficiaries of its work. It is also true to say that the criticism of the election commission is also pre-emptied by the political parties and the politicians in readiness to challenge the election outcome if it does not go in their favour.

The recent deliberations of the ECP regarding the election timeline and the process have further raised questions about its independence from political manipulation.

It also needs to be said that the recent deliberations of the ECP regarding the election timeline and the process have further raised questions about its independence from political manipulation.

In a functioning democracy, institutions provide continuity with essential checks and balances to ensure continuity and stability. Without institutional control, politicians are prone to becoming self-serving masters which is presently the case in Pakistan.

The country’s principal institutions, from Parliament to the army to law & order to the judiciary are all in disrepute. It can be argued that this is deliberate by the political elites who do want any degree of control and accountability. They want to avoid any sense of collective responsibility which is what the institution of Parliament is all about or should be about.

The present political crisis has made the route to democracy perhaps not impossible but certainly more hazardous. The most insidious aspect of this is the loss of public faith in political institutions or the instruments of democracy.

In functional democracy, political parties, elected members and the elected chambers supported by the arteries of administration, law & order and judiciary go to ensure that the processes and the systems with proper checks and balances continue to evolve. The mechanics of continuity and stability are presently unhinged.

This has resulted in the anti-democratic forces capitalising on the current political polarisation by suggesting that Pakistan is not ready for democracy.

This has resulted in the anti-democratic forces capitalising on the current political polarisation by suggesting that Pakistan is not ready for democracy.

Army rule or any other form of despotic rule would be better. The failure of the political leaders to find a way out of the current political impasse is providing an opportunity to anti-democracy lobbies to double their propaganda dismissing democracy which they argue allows power-hungry politicians to manipulate the illiterate.

They point to the popularity of IK as a public reaction to the years of corruption of successive governments rather than a considered choice. For some the dictatorial and intransigent nature of IK’s appeals to people fed up with the political doldrums of the last seven decades.

The current crisis have deepened and intensified the mistrust of people in politicians and political institutions. This perhaps is the most damaging aspect of the current political climate in Pakistan. To say that Pakistan is not ready for democracy is misguided.

If nothing else the recent public agitations are indicative of people desiring a change and wanting to be involved in driving this change. This is essentially what democracy is all about.

This should be our starting point and the processes and systems should be aligned to facilitate this. There should be no holding back on this. Politicians and political institutions should realise that they can’t escape and avoid their answerability to the supreme democratic institution of all – The Public Of Pakistan.

The author is a British citizen of Pakistani origin with a keen interest in Pakistani and international affairs.

The article is the writer’s opinion, it may or may not adhere to the organization’s editorial policy.