The parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms completed its job last week and 18th amendment bill was tabled in the assembly. It is hoped that the lawmakers would pass this bill in the parliament without any hassle as all political parties in the assembly were represented on the parliamentary committee.
So far, partisans had their own priorities, miseries of the people multiplying day by day. Anyhow, elected representatives of the people would have no excuse now, and will have to address the problems faced by the people. Though there was no amendment regarding civil-military relationship yet there are quite a few pseudo-intellectuals who continue with the litany of holding military establishment responsible for all the malaises the country is facing. Even spokesman of the CJ during movement for restoration of judiciary said during a talk-show on a private TV channel the other day that for the last 63 years, elected representatives were never allowed to run the government, which is travesty of the truth. He did not realize that it is because of the military that Charsadda leaders and for that matter others could go back to their abodes. There is a perception that despite the lawyers’ movement, reinstatement of the judiciary would not have been possible, had the military not intervened. Such people take resort to clichés. For example, many of them believed if the military had not overthrown the elected governments in the past, the sapling of democracy would have taken root. They do not understand the intrinsic infirmities that have kept this country from becoming a real democracy, and on the top of the list is jagirdari system. Frequent military interventions certainly stultified the democracy in the country but politicians were also responsible in equal measure because they formed alliances to get rid of the elected governments. It was politicians that in league with bureaucracy did not frame the constitution from 1947 to 1956, and during free for all in the former East Pakistan a deputy speaker was injured and later succumbed to his injuries. Armed forces being the only organized institution tried to fill the void. There could be one odd adventurer but invariably the circumstances warranted the military intervention. But both civil and military rulers had taken some good decisions and some flawed and controversial ones; therefore holding only military dispensations responsible for the mess is a devious argument and conjecture. In fact, feudal mindset pervades all strata of society. The political parties are dynasties; the leaders are despotic and dictatorial in temperament, and run their political parties as their personal fiefdoms. Anyhow, if elected leaders have to remain relevant to the people, they must take measures for providing the basic necessities of live and utilities to the people at affordable prices. Instead of reducing social sector spending or defence spending they should stop withdrawing their salaries, their perks and privileges and unlimited medical and conveyance allowances. They should control inflation, protect life and property of people and wean off the confrontational politics that often led to chaos and anarchy. Our economic crisis is indeed the result of continuous plunder and mismanagement of resources by the leaders whose life’s ambition is to acquire power and wealth at the cost of Pakistan’s sovereignty. After partisans have reached consensus on 18th amendment and will hopefully be passed by the Parliament, they should now focus on the problems people are facing vis-à-vis unemployment, ever-rising prices of essential commodities and unreasonable tariff for utilities. With vibrant judiciary, people expect quick dispensation of court justice. Of course, steps are being taken by the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and he has asked all levels of judiciary to expeditiously decide the cases. In fact, a lot has to be done so that benefits of democracy and good governance could reach the people. Western democracy owed its origin to the Industrial Revolution and emergence of capitalism. The world had witnessed evolutionary changes, in seventeenth century England when the trading community forged unity in their ranks to wage a struggle against the absolute powers of the kings, barons and influence of the clergy. John Locke had propounded the theory of basic rights of life, property and freedom. Rising bourgeoisie supported the rationalism of Voltaire and naturalism of Rousseau, as they were to assume the leadership due to the void created by the barons and clergy. Since the country was ready for change, the concept of democracy emerged with capitalism, which acquired social democratic element as universal suffrage appeared on the horizon. The masses were thus given tangible benefits in terms of social welfare and income redistribution in return. On the other hand, democracy in the poor countries euphemistically called developing countries is emerging at a time when the neo-liberalism advocated by the West is in ascendancy, and state intervention is deemed ideologically unsound. But what is to be done to overcome the challenges facing the country? First of all, political parties should democratize their parties and stop running the parties as dynasties. They should hold free and fair elections in their political parties so that the slots of the party are filled by the honest and competent people. As a result, a new leadership would emerge. It is due to running the parties as their fiefdoms that second leadership of the parties could not emerge. Secondly, instead of begging from the world and resorting to IMF loans with harsh conditionalities politicians and the filthy rich should bring their billions of dollars stashed in foreign banks and whatever they have invested in real estate and in industry in other countries. Finally, as stated above members of the assemblies should stop taking salaries and perks and privileges, as they belong to the rich classes and they can afford to use their own transport and residences. They should realize that people of Pakistan have given them honour and respect, and quite a few of them have amassed wealth using their positions. Since, the country has given them so much, now is the time that they should give something to the country. It has to be understood that hunger, starvation, disease, crimes, extremism and terrorism are results of the unjust socio-economic order. The lawmakers and judiciary should revisit article 38 of the Constitution under the heading: Promotion of social and economic well-being of the people. It reads: “The State shall (a) secure the well-being of the people, irrespective of sex, caste, creed or race, by raising their standard of living, by preventing the concentration of wealth and means of production and distribution in the hands of a few to the detriment of general interest and by ensuring equitable adjustment of rights between employers and employees, and landlords and tenants”. Part (d) of the above article undertakes “to provide basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing, housing, education and medical relief, for all such citizens, irrespective of sex, caste, creed or race, as are permanently or temporarily unable to earn their livelihood on account of infirmity, sickness or unemployment”. They should also try to implement articles 3, 8, 11 and 37 that deal with elimination of exploitation, laws contrary to fundamental laws be declared void, end to slavery and forced labour. By implementing these articles, a just society can be established, which will address the problems of abject poverty, disease, extremism and terrorism.
So far, partisans had their own priorities, miseries of the people multiplying day by day. Anyhow, elected representatives of the people would have no excuse now, and will have to address the problems faced by the people. Though there was no amendment regarding civil-military relationship yet there are quite a few pseudo-intellectuals who continue with the litany of holding military establishment responsible for all the malaises the country is facing. Even spokesman of the CJ during movement for restoration of judiciary said during a talk-show on a private TV channel the other day that for the last 63 years, elected representatives were never allowed to run the government, which is travesty of the truth. He did not realize that it is because of the military that Charsadda leaders and for that matter others could go back to their abodes. There is a perception that despite the lawyers’ movement, reinstatement of the judiciary would not have been possible, had the military not intervened. Such people take resort to clichés. For example, many of them believed if the military had not overthrown the elected governments in the past, the sapling of democracy would have taken root. They do not understand the intrinsic infirmities that have kept this country from becoming a real democracy, and on the top of the list is jagirdari system. Frequent military interventions certainly stultified the democracy in the country but politicians were also responsible in equal measure because they formed alliances to get rid of the elected governments. It was politicians that in league with bureaucracy did not frame the constitution from 1947 to 1956, and during free for all in the former East Pakistan a deputy speaker was injured and later succumbed to his injuries. Armed forces being the only organized institution tried to fill the void. There could be one odd adventurer but invariably the circumstances warranted the military intervention. But both civil and military rulers had taken some good decisions and some flawed and controversial ones; therefore holding only military dispensations responsible for the mess is a devious argument and conjecture. In fact, feudal mindset pervades all strata of society. The political parties are dynasties; the leaders are despotic and dictatorial in temperament, and run their political parties as their personal fiefdoms. Anyhow, if elected leaders have to remain relevant to the people, they must take measures for providing the basic necessities of live and utilities to the people at affordable prices. Instead of reducing social sector spending or defence spending they should stop withdrawing their salaries, their perks and privileges and unlimited medical and conveyance allowances. They should control inflation, protect life and property of people and wean off the confrontational politics that often led to chaos and anarchy. Our economic crisis is indeed the result of continuous plunder and mismanagement of resources by the leaders whose life’s ambition is to acquire power and wealth at the cost of Pakistan’s sovereignty. After partisans have reached consensus on 18th amendment and will hopefully be passed by the Parliament, they should now focus on the problems people are facing vis-à-vis unemployment, ever-rising prices of essential commodities and unreasonable tariff for utilities. With vibrant judiciary, people expect quick dispensation of court justice. Of course, steps are being taken by the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and he has asked all levels of judiciary to expeditiously decide the cases. In fact, a lot has to be done so that benefits of democracy and good governance could reach the people. Western democracy owed its origin to the Industrial Revolution and emergence of capitalism. The world had witnessed evolutionary changes, in seventeenth century England when the trading community forged unity in their ranks to wage a struggle against the absolute powers of the kings, barons and influence of the clergy. John Locke had propounded the theory of basic rights of life, property and freedom. Rising bourgeoisie supported the rationalism of Voltaire and naturalism of Rousseau, as they were to assume the leadership due to the void created by the barons and clergy. Since the country was ready for change, the concept of democracy emerged with capitalism, which acquired social democratic element as universal suffrage appeared on the horizon. The masses were thus given tangible benefits in terms of social welfare and income redistribution in return. On the other hand, democracy in the poor countries euphemistically called developing countries is emerging at a time when the neo-liberalism advocated by the West is in ascendancy, and state intervention is deemed ideologically unsound. But what is to be done to overcome the challenges facing the country? First of all, political parties should democratize their parties and stop running the parties as dynasties. They should hold free and fair elections in their political parties so that the slots of the party are filled by the honest and competent people. As a result, a new leadership would emerge. It is due to running the parties as their fiefdoms that second leadership of the parties could not emerge. Secondly, instead of begging from the world and resorting to IMF loans with harsh conditionalities politicians and the filthy rich should bring their billions of dollars stashed in foreign banks and whatever they have invested in real estate and in industry in other countries. Finally, as stated above members of the assemblies should stop taking salaries and perks and privileges, as they belong to the rich classes and they can afford to use their own transport and residences. They should realize that people of Pakistan have given them honour and respect, and quite a few of them have amassed wealth using their positions. Since, the country has given them so much, now is the time that they should give something to the country. It has to be understood that hunger, starvation, disease, crimes, extremism and terrorism are results of the unjust socio-economic order. The lawmakers and judiciary should revisit article 38 of the Constitution under the heading: Promotion of social and economic well-being of the people. It reads: “The State shall (a) secure the well-being of the people, irrespective of sex, caste, creed or race, by raising their standard of living, by preventing the concentration of wealth and means of production and distribution in the hands of a few to the detriment of general interest and by ensuring equitable adjustment of rights between employers and employees, and landlords and tenants”. Part (d) of the above article undertakes “to provide basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing, housing, education and medical relief, for all such citizens, irrespective of sex, caste, creed or race, as are permanently or temporarily unable to earn their livelihood on account of infirmity, sickness or unemployment”. They should also try to implement articles 3, 8, 11 and 37 that deal with elimination of exploitation, laws contrary to fundamental laws be declared void, end to slavery and forced labour. By implementing these articles, a just society can be established, which will address the problems of abject poverty, disease, extremism and terrorism.
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