March 23, 2008: Let Democracy Reign

Posted on March 23, 2008
Filed Under >Adil Najam, Politics, Society
23 Comments
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Adil Najam

Pakistan Flag DemocracyAddressing the Pakistan military parade today, Gen. Pervez Musharraf proclaimed that “you are seeing that a real democratic era has begun in Pakistan.” I say “Amen” to that. I remain confident as ever that Pakistan remains a democratic society trapped inside of an undemocratic state. I repeat and stand by what I had written a year ago today:

On this March 23rd, I am more confident than ever that not only can democracy work in Pakistan, it is the only thing that can. Whether our elites recognize it or not, the democratic spirit of the people can neither be tamed nor contained. Not any more.

If one were to go into details, my quibble would be that Pakistani society has always been democratic. It is the state that has been captured, again and again, by undemocratic forces – with or without elections. Elections, as so many have argued, are a necessary but not a sufficient condition for democracy. Elections, in themselves, do not give you democracy; but it is impossible to have democracy without them. Democracy, ultimately, is the simple proposition that people have a right to and the ability to impact the decisions that will impact them. All else is the mechanics of how a society chooses to make this happen. The best way to safeguard democracy is to make democracy work.

The new government – under Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, at least in the short term – have (yet another) historic opportunity to make get the mechanics right. After years and years of undemocratic interferences and spurts and starts, we need – more than anything – to demonstrate not only that democracy will work in Pakistan, but that it will work for all Pakistanis. Once people truly see democracy working for them, they will themselves stand in the way of anyone trying to circumvent the process. Here, if anywhere, it is indeed true – as the Kevin Costner character said in the move Field of Dreams: “If you build it, they will come.” Indeed, they will!

As those in politics are wont to, Gen. Musharraf also takes far too much credit for himself – indeed, he takes credit even for that which has happened despite him. For example, when he says “during the past eight years, not only we laid the foundation of a real democracy, but we also put Pakistan on the path of progress and prosperity.” But the least one can do is to give him the benefit to believe so, if so he wishes to believe. As long as he actually believes – and will make believable – his next claim: i.e., “whichever new government is formed, it will have my full support.”

The test of his mettle will be whether he can, will or really wants to give his “full support” to the next government. The test of the mettle of the next government will be whether they will want, need or accept his “full support.”

23 responses to “March 23, 2008: Let Democracy Reign”

  1. Reza Kamran says:

    Musharraf talks in conciliatory tones these days. He says he would extend ‘full support’ to the new Govt. Now, what does he mean by ‘full support’? How is full support different from complete support? Well, it depends on what Musharraf means by full support. It could mean two different things. Full Support could mean support as long as it is administered by him. It could also mean support if the new PM will abide by his rules. The incoming Govt itself knows that support itself is not a given. It could mean Support from outside, but with enough power to pull the rug. If this Support comes with such strings, then that kind of Support may not be constructive support. But Support that can come without strings may look dubious. Moreover, Support could also mean only for a duration. In this context, it is important to delve into what he meant by ‘Full’. Again, ‘Full’ could mean so many different things. Note that he did not use the word ‘complete’. If he had said ‘complete’ may be the new incoming PM could have read it differently. Musharraf has sown some seeds in the minds of the new PM by saying Full and not complete. At this stage, whether it be full or complete, we need all the support and cooperation and collaboration for grand reconciliation. That could be the way forward indeed.

  2. Viqar Minai says:

    Adil,
    To the extent that the majority of citizens in Pakistan have always (well, most of the time anyway) yearned for democracy, I can agree with you. But it is a stretch to say that the Pakistani society has always been “democratic”. Now I realize that there would be howls of protest over this assertion. But, to my mind, democracy does not only bestow certain right on the citizenry; it also places major demands of responsibility. Among these, the responsibility to be fundamentally law abiding, disciplined, considerate of others, and – more importantly – struggle to the point of being unwilling to accept anything less (than unfettered democracy for the society). Let me elaborate with a real example.

    Not too long ago, before the elections in Pakistan,I was watching one of them panel discussions on the DAWNNEWS TV channel. Among the panelist was Roedad Khan who narrated something that struck me. He was recounting a visit , in 1958 or 59, to Pakistan of a Congress leader (later to be Indian PM) Morarji Desai. This was shortly after the imposition of the 1958 ML by Ayub Khan. During his visit to NWFP, Desai expressed the desire to meet with Ghaffar Khan (Wali Khan’s father), which was granted by GOP. Roedad Khan accompanied Desai for his meet with Bacha Khan. According to RK, while they were driving to the meeting, Desai turned to him and remarked accusingly.”Is this why you partitioned the subcontinent? So that you will turn Pakistan over to the army?”. RK was angered by this and retorted,”Desai Sahib, there is barely difference of degrees among us; in Pakistan it is ML today, tomorrow it will be in India”. According to RK, Desai’s face darkened with rage:”Never, he screamed, over my dead body. If that happen’s Morarji’s will be the first chest to be bared to face the bullets of the soldiers”.

    This was no empty rhetoric, Adil. Indian politicians and leadership understood what freedom meant, and demanded of them; and they were willing and determined to pay that price. Sadly, never so for the leaders, or for the people of Pakistan.

    Till the lawyer’s movement recently asserted itself and persisted, Pakistanis have never been willing to face the music to overthrow the shackles. And even now, after 60 years of partition – yes I am still not willing to call it independence – the most inhuman form of elitism in the cruel shape of feudalism still thrives in Pakistan. It barely lived to see the dawn of independence in India.

    For all its tall claims, neither the political or the military leadership – which in fact springs from amongst its ranks – nor the common citizen have demonstrated the will to uproot this infamy with their blood.

    Not until the entire country is opened up, and the State has been brought to point where it is in a position to guarantee the right to life, security, and justice to the poorest of its citizens, will Pakistan have stepped from darkness into the light of freedom.

    As well, the temptation to short circuit the law manifested by indiscipline and utter selfishness in so many aspects of our social life – from driving on the roads to the corruption/bribery/IOUs in conducting our business affairs, is not conducive to being a good democratic society.

    Perhaps being fully democratic is a scale from 1 to 10 on which we have still not progressed beyond 3 or 4 . Let us not get carried away with labelling ourselves “democrats”, but continue to hope and pray that the day comes – the sooner the better – that we will be.

  3. Adil Bhai,

    I too share your optimism for a better tomorrow. For my ATP friends who are more pessimistic (or realistic?) I say in my defence and others like me that Pakistan must never stop believing, remember hope comes free!

    At the very least we can hope a little and even better would be if we do our own bit of national service to create an ‘other’ Pakistan – see http://www.otherpakistan.org/archive.html

    We should echo the sentiments in words and in actions of the great Faraz saab namely:

    shikwa ae zulmat ae shab se tho kahin behtar tha
    apne hisse ki koi shama jalate jaate

    Feimanallah

    Wasim

  4. ASHFAQ says:

    Adil, yaar, why waste this sophisticated description of democracy in its true sense on people whose comments are no more than slogans.

    Thanks for the inspiration, anyhow.

  5. Pakistani says:

    “No Democracy” till Musharraf out of Islamabad

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