Shahid Hussain
The effectiveness of political system depends on its state’s institutions: the stronger institutions, the better system. Various norms and traditions of society along with history develop a particular political culture, for instance: democracy, autocracy, monarchy, oligarchy and so far so forth. Pakistan, a predecessors of Great British Empire, aspired to have democracy, since its inception; its society and culture, nonetheless, do not resonate with it. Perhaps, lack of strong political parties is one of the fundamental constrains, our democracy is encountering, hitherto. This write-up unfolds the root causes behind vulnerable political parties in Pakistan. Political parties are democratic by letter, not by spirit. Major political parties like: PML-N, PPP, JUI-F, ANP, are dynastic in nature. Moreover, anti-dynastic parties are overwhelmed with powerful personalities. Consequently, these factors put party system into abyss by never allowing it to anchor. We inherited this culture from All India Muslim League [AIML]: enslaved by few elite families and absolute leadership, Quaid-e- Azam, now became part and parcel of our political organizations. The Constitution of 1973 is ambivalent as Executive and Legislative lead by a single power, Prime Minister. Though, this model amicably works in Britain and other states, owing to our political immaturity, however, it has always inculcated political quagmire. Legislative, Executive and Judiciary vehemently played their roles to develop political catastrophes, throughout the history. Dissolution of Constitutional assemblies by Executive by the enactment of Justice Munir’s infamous ‘Law of Necessity’ are some fateful episodes, which have subverted the evolutionary process of our political system Unfortunately, the dilemma is yet not over. All the basic organs of state are now interpreting the constitution by using their own spine to get political and administrative mileages. Norms and culture of society always play pivotal role in shaping political culture, because political process can’t promulgate in isolation. Being an oriental, people give sheer importance to traditions and culture. Highly illiteracy of polity, and religious stubbornness, also act as an inalienable part of our society, resulting into ethnic based politics. These societal tenants give birth regional political parties, having limited and self-centric manifestoes, rather than enlarge national parties like in UK and America. Political processes curtailed by stratifying public into ethnic, regional and religious issues, further usurp the development of political culture. Concoction of test tube political parties and alliances by establishment is a long saga of our short history. Convention Muslim League, MRD, Muslim League Functional, MQM-Haqiqi and today’s PSP, BAP and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party are the continuity of same streak. History witnesses, as there is no political will and ideology, these parties never played prudent role on political realm. The basic function behind these political engineering is to undermine main stream political parties, which never achieved, exacerbated the whole system, nevertheless. Effective local body system is the basic prerequisite of democracy, particularly, the development of political parties. It, on one side opens avenues for laymen to participate in politics, and on the other side political parties strengthen its roots by giving political consciousness to laymen and give birth political workers and new leaderships. Developed nations ensue this formula, resulting into political prosperity. Pakistan on the other hand, overlooked local government system: before 18th amendment Federal Government cherished maximum powers and now the lion’s share goes to Provincial Government. Unfortunately, due to myopic political wits of shown by federal and provincial governments, neither we able to develop a prudent political culture nor a strong party structure, as both are akin with devolution of power to lower units, tehsils. There is a romance between political stability and socio-economic development which we failed to understand, since our early days. Bankrupt economy, rampant poverty, highly polarized society and wide spread social disillusionment are few brunt of fragile political institutions which are hatched by various deliberate moves of power elites to carry out their malicious intentions. Now we are at the point of no return and democracy, a Hobson choice for us can only be materialized by a sound and stablepolitical culture and political party system, for the betterment of people and the state.
The writer, Mr. Shahid Hussain holds Master degree in English Literature and Linguistics from NUML, Islamabad and currently working as freelance writer.
