Pakistan’s political system is a salve to tradition deeply abhorring any nuance of change and hates innovation. It adheres to the age-old and cynical formula specifying that to be successful in politics, is required to surround oneself with sycophantic supporters, have access to a lot of money, never revealing the real face to the constituency, be very adept at making and breaking promises and the art of mudslinging.
The primary objective remains to acquire power by any means as swimming against the tide or challenging the existing state of affairs rarely earns rewards. Pakistani political class literally follows the dictum that politics have no relations to morals.
True to such tendencies Pakistani political environment highly values electability as it normally trumps all else in the selection criteria for candidates to contest elections. Altruistic considerations like ideology, conviction and merit do not enter much into the equation in the award of electoral tickets. Political parties believe that they are in a no-win situation; they cannot realistically cobble together a majority to form the next government without the flighty electable candidates with a dubious past of changing loyalties. Ultimately, the parties decide that the end justifies the means in the furious pursuit of power.
Political deal making and intrigues have been going on in Pakistan for years now. However, the entire blame for the massive greed and corruption that society seems to have spawned at an alarming rate since the country’s creation can’t be placed entirely on politicians and democracy. Society itself cannot be absolved from the blame as it reveres power and greed which make the environment fertile for elected leaders to choose unethical behaviour. In the prevailing situation, it is unrealistic to expect voters to swing a magic wand and rid the country of all political turncoats in one swoop.
It is more than clear by now that little can be done in the short-term to change the electoral landscape. At this stage, it seems that working with what is on offer is better than pointless hand wringing. Negativity only plays into the hands of those forces opposed to democracy altogether. Clearly, transforming an elite-controlled state into a broad-based democracy will require several election cycles and the active participation of voters. Removing status-quo oriented politicians and dynastic politics from the country’s political culture won’t happen overnight.
That said, countries with a more assured future can survive political experiments but Pakistan does not have the luxury for too many more failed trials at governance.
However amidst dark clouds of pessimism has emerged a ray of light that points out towards something positive. It is heartening to note that two democratically elected governments in succession completed their terms in office and the elected representatives also succeeded in removing an erratic government through the power of their vote. However, the economic decline and alleged corruption have overshadowed this achievement.
Moreover, Pakistan is fortunate to have a vibrant and generally open media despite experiencing bouts of external interference and self-censorship. The media can play a crucial role in the election process as it has the tools to see through economic and political reform agendas presented by various political parties. It can educate the electorate by objectively examining the track record and policies of political parties and candidates.
Hopefully, with this information, voters will be better equipped to make the right choices at the ballot box.
Despite the questionable record of democratic governance, its traction as the most viable system of rule is gradually taking hold. Undoubtedly, let down over and over again, voters are tired of political parties and leaders promising and not delivering and the political leadership has much explaining to do, especially their abysmal economic management and corruption.
Based on political realities, it is hard to imagine a revolutionary challenge to the existing social, political and economic order. However, free and fair elections do present an opportunity for voters to air their discontentment. Nevertheless, social challenges cannot extinguish the pent-up desire among the populace to find transformative leadership though finding leaders that can bring about change is not easy. Regrettably, pragmatic and centrist reformers do not exist in the current political party leadership line-up.
Moreover, the primary issues have remained unchanged in successive elections. They are a struggling economy, corruption and the lack of basic services such as education, health and jobs. Other issues include sectarianism and terrorism, institutional wrangling and foreign policy. The new government has to be up to the challenge of starting to pull the country out of its foreign, security and economic quagmire.
It must also take steps to consolidate democratic institutionalisation, strengthen civilian control over the military, dismantle the national security state, forge consensus among coalition partners and push economic reforms against opposition of the entrenched elite.
In this respect managing expectations, building consensus and communicating well can help in a democratic resolution of contentious issues such as the building of new dams to meet the impending water catastrophe. Any reform agenda must include the time-tested values of pluralism, education and open markets.
Malik Nasir Mahmood Aslam is a seasoned social activist
