The True Force Of Democracy

Ishtiaq Ahmed
Rishi Sunak of the Indian ancestry is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Humza Yousaf of Pakistani descent has become the First Minister of Scotland and the leader of Scottish National Party, succeeding Nicolas Sturgeon.
Whilst Anas Sarwar, the son of former member of the UK Parliament and 33rd governor of Punjab Chaudhary Mohammed Sarwar, is waiting in the wings as the incumbent leader of the Scottish Labour Party.
Across the Irish Sea, Leo Varadar, son of an Indian doctor, is the Prime Minister of Ireland.
And if we throw into the mix Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, we have five Asians, two of Indian and three of Pakistani heritage at the helm of British politics with ultimate responsibility of shaping and guiding Britain’s destiny.

The triumph of British-born Humza Yousaf is just the latest reflection of how times have changed as people of South Asian background occupy leadership roles in the British, Scottish and Irish parliaments

Britain has come a long way from the days of the British Raj which practiced ‘No Indians & Dogs’. Also, a great deal of water has gone under the bridge since the 60’s when the houses for the rent in Britain carried signs ‘No Pakis, No Blacks’. Democracy has cut through all this to place the five Asians at the helm of British politics.
India and Pakistan were once the jewel of a British empire that stretched so far across the globe that it was often said the sun would never set on it. But after 75 years the history has come full circle for us to witness “The Empire Strikes Back”
Humza Yusuf replaces Sturgeon, an ardent supporter of Scotland’s bid for Independence. Could it be that Yousaf sees through the independence of Scotland which inevitably will lead to the breakdown of the United Kingdom as we know it or would he settle for a devolved power. The tug of war between him and Rishi Sunak would be most fascinating to observe.
Yousaf’s father was born in the city of Mian Channu, in the country’s sprawling Punjab province that borders India. His mother was born in Nairobi, Kenya, also to a Punjabi family. Both migrated to Scotland in the 1960s.

The fact that all five politicians of Asian ancestry have reached the pinnacle of British politics in just about 70 years is testimony to the strength of democracy and the democratic structures which are sadly not the case in Pakistan

I am of the view that if you allow democracy to take its proper route, it inevitably will reward merit and equality.
The success of five Asians is even more remarkable considering the deep-rooted racism and Islamophobia in the British society. This proves that true and open democracy, if allowed to take root, has the power to cut through the ladened prejudice thus allowing the merit to come forward and flourish.

In this, there maybe a lesson for the political party elites and those aspiring for genuine and meaningful democracy in Pakistan.
This has to be an awakening call for Pakistan which has been on and off the democracy track for the past 75 years but reaching this destination remains uncertain.

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