On September 15, International Day of Democracy was celebrated worldwide, including in Pakistan, under the auspices of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The goal of this observance is to support emerging democracies globally and to promote actions for democratic governance at the governmental level. Pakistani rulers and opposition leaders issued statements on this day, praising democracy and claiming that its purpose is to provide people with their rights, which they have never truly received under any government. Ironically, these virtues of democracy often come to mind only after they lose power. Those who establish personal dictatorships under the guise of democracy and violate all democratic norms suddenly remember that democracy is the key solution to the challenges faced by the public.
Democracy plays a crucial role in empowering people and promoting social and economic development. It ensures that the continuity of the democratic process is a guarantee of national progress. The International Day of Democracy offers an opportunity for all stakeholders to play a positive role in the continuity and promotion of democracy. It provides our assembly and parliamentary leaders a chance to make statements that democracy upholds the supremacy of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the independence of the judiciary and media.
On Democracy Day, those who spend the year making undemocratic decisions use official messages to claim that the continuity of the democratic process is essential for brightening Pakistan’s future and connecting institutions. It reminds Pakistani democrats that democracy is the foundation of the country’s development, providing solutions to economic and political problems through strong and uninterrupted democratic governance. To achieve this, we must put aside our differences and focus on strengthening democratic institutions.
After failing to secure a two-thirds majority for constitutional amendments, ministers in parliament admitted that keeping this institution powerful and dignified is their responsibility and that the role of the parliament should not be reduced to a rubber stamp. The law minister acknowledged that certain judicial decisions have weakened democracy and severely affected parliament. Had these influential institutions stayed within their limits, parliament would have remained empowered. The decline of democracy and the weakening of parliament have been due to our mutual political and illegal actions, which have derailed the democratic process and harmed its continuity.
On Democracy Day, the statements made by the Chairman of the Senate and federal ministers about the virtues and definition of democracy left the public bewildered. None of these democratic qualities are visible in Pakistani democracy, which operates as a self-serving system designed solely for government officials and political leaders. This system benefits only those who gain seats in the assemblies and form governments under the banner of democracy, growing richer in the process.
Their wealth has increased, and they have fully exploited this democracy, enjoying power and treating the people as subordinates, worsening their conditions. Since the creation of Pakistan, democracy has been misused, bringing no real benefit to the public. Until 1999, no assembly was allowed to complete its term. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is hopeful that in October, the current assemblies will be dissolved, leading to new elections. If this happens, it will be the first time since 1973 that the assemblies elected in February 2024 will set a record by being dissolved within the same year.
From 1985 to 1999, none of the assemblies completed their terms, as elected prime ministers could not get along with the military president first and later with two empowered civilian presidents, who sent the rulers back to the public every two to three years using Article 58(2)(b). Following the appointment of weaker presidents, assemblies only managed to complete their terms under General Pervez Musharraf. These officials and members got the chance to face the public again after five years, realizing that this democracy owes its existence to the very public they often ignore.
Members of the assemblies, once elected, forget the ordinary citizens, transforming from simple shalwar kameez to suits, remembering only the wealthy, while the poor and destitute continue to struggle. The public’s only role seems to be standing in lines to cast votes, often accused of voting for money or a plate of biryani. But the real beneficiaries are the elites who make it to the assemblies through the generosity of those in power.
MNA Mehmood Khan Achakzai stated that some assembly members do not even speak once during their five-year tenure, remaining silent. This is not incorrect, as these members focus on personal financial gains without saying a word, while those who speak often seek personal benefits and media fame. They fight politically, hurl accusations at one another, but also unite for their mutual interests under the guise of democracy. Meanwhile, the public watches these democratic spectacles in the assemblies, growing poorer and more disillusioned under this so-called democracy, which is, in reality, a purely self-interested democracy.