Military, Politics and the last nine years
By Saadi Agha • Dec 28th, 2009 • Category: Politics • 8 CommentsAbout two weeks ago I got in to an intense argument with a few friends over dinner, the nature of the argument was the much-discussed current economic and political issues facing Pakistan.
it all started with me describing the last few years ruled by the army as ”disastrous” in all aspects. It was not surprising to note that on a table of about 20, no one agreed with me, they supported the policies and the programmes of the army rule.
A commonly stated argument for most people usually follows the line similar to this;
“Democracy is for western nations, it is not fit for Pakistan since the country comprises majority illiterate”.
I have tried arguing this principle vocally, but being outnumbered it was not to much avail.
Therefore I decided to write.
So lets start with the first statement, “democracy is for the western nations”- here is where the biggest misconception lies in our elite circles, democracy is not simply for the people by the people. Democracy carries with a more extensive formula which encompasses the basis of rights, now what I find really surprising, or lets use a more appropriate word, paternalistic perhaps, is the fact that these people sit their in cushy homes, luxury of receiving the best education, tell the 99 percent of the illiterate population that they do not have the right to the constitution because they are illiterate, which seems to be their fault, however the 1 percent minority, of the population feels since their parents could afford them to send them to the best schools, they have the right of speech and the right to the constitution. They speak of rights, when they themselves are the supporters of denying those rights to the masses.
Now to the second part of the statement, which says that democracy, is for western nations,
This is where I find the futility of argument, many who argue do not understand or know the history of democracy, firstly, the platonic version of democracy started in ancient Greece, before the advent of Abrahamic religion, meaning it is perhaps one of the oldest institutions existing, secondly, democracy actaully started spreading Europe after the French revolution, so if anyone wants to debate about the illetracy rate, then I suggest they try to find the literacy rate in 1789!
Democracy is a concept and a way of life, it is not spatially or temporally bound, thus to say that it is restricted to the western nations is actually an uneducated response in itself.
To further this point, I would like to point out india, we are often confronted with people saying that India made better decisions then us, but what drove them? Yes they were more literate than us, but what needs to be understood is that after partition the disparity between education standards was not great, if democracy flourished their, then there is no reason why it cant here.
When we talk about development we talk about emancipation and not GDP growth, if there is growth without freedom of action, expression or thought, then it is not development, it is just merely growth!
In the last 9 years of the army rule, the few of our elite class has benefitted by very large proportions, hence we come across a lot of support for the army, a closer look at the policies and the practices from an unbiased angle would make one realize that the nine years actually destroyed any institutions Pakistan had.
The politicians are no less however, but one must realize that the masses will only be mobilized when democracy prevails, they cannot always be clamped down. One other aspect, which we usually hear, is that democracy came, but never flourished in Pakistan. It the naivety of this argument which sometimes forces me to withdraw debate. Democracy, never prevailed, the predatory relationship of the establishment with various powerful groups prevented such a notion.
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kindly enlighten us as to WHEN democracy game in PAK? Either it was the Military uniform its its civilian puppets?
How can you (or the person talking anti democracy) even comment on something he never experienced?
Let democracy come here, we test it and then let it fail and then talk about its merits and demerits.
If someone puts yellow color on grapes, will it become MANGO?
PAKs establishment has ruled 60% of the time. Rest of 40% they installed pre-selected puppets, so as for a justification of COMING BACK HOME with a pretext of being Saviors
Please tell me the exact time and dates when democracy was present in PAK?
Our problem is that we consider democracy as some sort of virgin bride. We want it pure and perfect. That’s not how things work in politics and national affairs. Democracy gets flourished step by step after getting mauled by dictators several times, and it’s an evolutionary process, not something done by magic wand in a jiffy.
There is only one person who can bring change in masses’s life and that’s none other than Imran Khan….
Shairfs,Zardaris,and Musharafs are the same…
@ Mb
im sorry but i dont even understand your question.
my article is not anti democracy
secondly, if you read my article properly you will realize not once does it say that democracy ever flourished.
i am confused about the nature of your argument.
Dear Author,
No doubt the democracy should be adopted but we need to pamper it like a baby (those who have the resources) as it still not clear in the mind of 90% of people. It took over 100 years of learned class like philosopher’s, thinkers etc of France to frame the concept of democracy and then another 50 to take into masses so that it could form a movement which lead to French revolution on name of Freternity, equality and liberty and still was hijacked shortly by Nepolian.
It take centuries to breed these bigger concept in the nations and believe me we are really fast on this track, Ok not as fast as India is but we are not as slow as Europe was.
After 9 years the only left over after different experiments of US and ISI ,we have only the politicized military and complete militarism in field of politics.
So in this situation kiyani ,tariq majeed.athar abbas and shujah pasha are best political leader of Pakistan working in Pakistan army and on the other hand fauzia whaiab, dr ashiq awan, rehman malik, mirza zulfiqar, sharmeela forooqi like forefront soldiers found in political army of Pakistan.
Our country can be placed as a best example where wrong people are always found in right places.
It is amazing when people can put forth such naïve arguments as “Democracy does not suit Pakistan”. I wholeheartedly reaffirm you argument as a “benevolent despot” show his benevolence only to the few privileged ones, where as the democracy gives voice to marginalized millions
it is suited that democracey is not fit for pakistan it is for forign government, the reason is that, that our all politition are not more educated and all of them are (sarmayadar). They pass every resoulution for their own intrest. Marshallah is fit for pakistan either they not go in advance they will be still constant that is better then democratic situation.