Editorial
Dr. Busharat Elahi Jamil
Practising undemocratic democracy, whiz democracy without demos, Pakistanis are deprived of the real benefits of a true democracy. Contemporary Pakistani so-called democratic practices had five immoral components; political elite, bullying, violence, political trickery, religion, regional and racism. Political parties practised all of them as tools according to the circumstances especially religion and provincialism more often. Unfortunately, the political and religio-political assemblages never unite on same page for any public interest except for their political targets; PDM being the worst example of the kind.
On occasion, having political credentials, national level parties use regional, provincial or language cards like PPP Sindh, PML-N Punjab and MQM Urdu cards exploiting their followers’ ignorance as they get immune to reasoning and understanding their tactics. Furthermore, not only religio-political but political parties, both political and authoritarian leaders like Liaqat Ali Khan, Ayub Khan, Z. A. Bhutto, Zia etc. used religious card for their political gains. In other words, they are also responsible for the socio-political and religious hate, widen the breaches and escalating the negative tendencies among the masses.
Religious card is most effective tool for politicians, Imran’s alliance with JUI-S, the role of JUI-F in PDM and JI’s collation with political parties indicate politicians abusing street power of religious groups and religious leaders supporting political parties for socio-economic and political benefits. They are not strengthening Islam and its teachings in the society but only exploiting religion as a tool seeking the power for personal purposes.
Unfortunately, in Pakistan politics is not revolve around democracy to serving the nation but only for certain personal objectives. In contemporary Pakistan, by political elite cover up their financial and moral corruption using the public institutions for their own purposes even at the cost of the reputation of the Country. Contemporary legislation of PDM about NAB and the further monopolized use of FIA and IB by political regimes and usage of parliament by unpopular political entities is damaging the credibility of true democracy and the parliament.
Furthermore, political assemblages do not only acquire political strength to hide their moral or financial corruption but also to seek ultimate power to become untouchable to dominate with their business. These are the reasons for the trend of hereditary politics in Pakistan. Leaders of religio-political parties want the political dominance with the dominance of the respective sect and dogmas.
The contemporary situations be set to that the so-called political practices by the non-democratic political forces are responsible for the differences and division in the Pakistani society. Nation is divided in provinces, faiths and languages and Jinnah’s Pakistan is drifting away, while unity and integration become more crucial need of the time.