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Pakistan: Our Type of Democracy?

Safdar Jafri - 6/1/2008

We have often heard our leaders, specially dictators, that Wesminster-style democracy is not for Pakistan. Putting our bias aside, the theory is not entirely pointless. Pick up any democracy in the world and it will be different from another. Even the two most widely known democracies in Pakistan, the UK and the US, are not the same. In fact, some aspects of their democracies are simply incompatible. One is a Prime Ministerial system where 51% majority in the Parliament is sufficient to push almost any bill through and the other is a Presidential system in which a President is more of a selection than election (the flaw of the system is obvious from the fact that Bush, despite sheer unpopularity in the American public was (s)eleted twice). Similar differences, sometimes incredibly deep, can be found among other democracies around the world. But they are all known as democracies, including a military-dominated Turkey. Why can't we in Pakistan evolve and have our brand of democracy ? Mr Musharaf has a valid point in this.
So what type of democracy is best suited to Pakistan ? The answer must come from the Pakistanis themselves rather than from outside. No one can decide what suits us best than ourselves. Now whether this should be left to the masses is a tough question. I personally think that successful democracies and their evolution took place where the basic democratic fundamentals were laid down by the think-tanks of a society rather than through general public opinion. If you look at how democracies evolved in the UK and US, you will find that initial phases were highly undemocratic with few powerful but wise and well-meaning persons calling the shots. Even a democracy like France was founded by a General named Charles De Gaulle; a powerful army man. Besides, it took ages for these democracies to evolve in these countries, let alone a young country of sixty years like Pakistan. So, future is certainly bright for Pakistan in the light of these historical experiences in other parts of the world.
It is also clear from the same historical experiences that whatever democratic system evolves in Pakistan will be unique to Pakistan. It will never be identical to another democracy, including India with whom we share similar history, culture, economic progress, language and even public psychie. Any system of governance that puts the power of keeping or overthrowing the leadership of the country in the hands of majority will be democracy. This is what Pakistan needs in its democracy. The rest will follow as leaders will become increasingly accountable and will need to show performance to remain in power. This element of accountability of the leadership is what democracy is. Democracy may not be the best of systems and experiences show that they are quite capable of failing to deliver in certain cases (imagine electing or selecting a man like George Bush who can wreak havoc on the Americans and the world alike) but it is still the best system available in the present day politics. Pakistan is on its way to discover its own brand of democracy. Whether it succeeds in getting there depends on how its key political actors play out in the future.

Next Place of US Action: Pakistan, Not Iran

Pakistan awaits major turbulence. US officials believe that the next 9/11 will come from Pakistan while extremists have pledged to take over Pakistan their next target. International community rates Pakistan most dangerous place on earth; more dangerous than Iraq and Afghanistan and even Iran. Domestically, it is the ruling coalition and legal community vs President Musharaf. If Musharaf reacts, he can dismiss the assembly and make the situation even messier. The combination of economic and political turmoil can throw the country's very survival into uncertainty.

If such turmoil does break out, given the growing concerns about the resurrgent terrorism and insecure nuclear weapons, a coalition of Pakistan army and the US army is likely to take over the country. This kind of governance can and quite likely will lead to the eventual disintegration of Pakistan along ethnic and linguistic lines. Such balkanization of Pakistan in the long run will have similar consequences for the whole region and should therefore be a major cause of concern for India and Iran in particular.

How the present crisis in the country shapes in future will decide which way the wind will blow for Pakistan and the region. The next big international event is likely to take place in Pakistan, not Iran or elsewhere in the West Asia.