Pakistan’s Nascent Democracy
And Plethora Of Challenges
By Rahil Yasin
02 August, 2009
Countercurrents.org
LAHORE: It has been almost one and a half year since the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) came to power after a long period of dictator’s rule. The party has not yet delivered on major of its many electoral promises. Naive people pinned countless hopes to this setup. They learnt a little from the past experiences of these ‘family parties’. This is due to people’s short sited memories. Or the saying, “even the worst democracy is better than dictatorship” has great impact on the thinking of Pakistani people. So, they always elect ‘worst democracy’ to rule the roost.
This time, PPP won the February 2008 election getting the sympathy votes after the unexpected killing of its leader Benazir Bhutto only few months before the polls.
Launching the party manifesto for February 2008 election, PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto said, “Our election manifesto stands for five Es that is employment, education, energy, environment and equality to make our country a truly democratic, welfare state”. In reality; inflation, unemployment, loadshedding, uneven education system, unclean water and inequality are increasingly making the lives of ordinary Pakistanis more and more miserable. And the incompetent government has no workable plan to get out of this mess. Only tall claims and false promises are being made by the leaders.
Pakistan has potential to produce at least 70,000mw power by utilizing its numerous hydal sources. The menace of loadshedding can be exterminated permanently from the country, if only a half of hydal potential is utilized. Small dams should be constructed to overcome the water shortage in the country. The construction of water reservoirs is vital for the country as if new dams are not constructed in a period of next five years Pakistan would be included in water scarce countries. Coal can be another good source to generate electricity, and huge investment should be made in coal exploration, mining and establishment of coal-fired power plants.
The government should actively work towards the target of promoting universal enrolment by 2015 of all children between the ages of 5 to 10. The environment policy should be revolved around community participation, water resource management, climate change and ecological management system. The only need is political will to explore all opportunities and rid the country from all the problems.
Meanwhile, demons are creeping in from all sides. Bit by bit, they are tearing apart the moderate and conservative fabric of the country, which had been woven with great care over the centuries especially under Zia era. Talibanization, fundamentalism and extremism are the main reasons for the existing chaos that has now become the hallmark of the country. Pakistanis are living in unfamiliar but discernibly dangerous times.
Wars are going on in all corners of the country. People are being forced from their homes, dying and being maimed, injured or disabled. People are being threatened with starvation, epidemics and death, while those who are responsible for such misery sleep soundly in their warm beds. These events do not evoke a speck of guilty conscience in them.
Abject poverty and deprivation of the lands, lack of justice and opportunities, apathy of successive governments, clueless Taliban fighters and some of semi-literate so-called religious leaders are the main reasons behind this unrest.
What Pakistan needs today, is a different view point and a different approach towards solving the problems of the masses. Pakistan is mired by plethora of problems both internally and externally. However, the woes emanate more from inside than outside. However, the enormity of challenges should bring the point home that all stakeholders need to join their forces together in order to offset these challenges to our survival. The political forces need to show unanimity of views on matters involving national interest.
Rahil Yasin is a freelance columnist and researcher based in Lahore. He can be reached at [email protected]
