Jahangir's World Times First Comprehensive Magazine for students/teachers of competitive exams and general readers as well.
Three pieces of one picture
We the Pakistanis usually think that once a particular person takes the helm of affairs, things will dramatically change as he has some magic wand with which all problems will be solved immediately. However, despite having seen numerous so-called ‘leaders’, the nation still seems not ready to learn some key lessons. One person may bring some innovative ideas but those ideas can take root only when the soil of the society is fertile and appropriate for nurturing the seed, from planting to becoming a full-grown tree.
Is Pakistani soil fertile for the political system known as democracy? It is the question that arises in the mid of every sane person in Pakistan. But, to this day, no one could answer the question in an appropriate manner. Democracy is not a system that evolved independently in the Western world; rather it is the result of the amalgamation of capitalism and humanism. A political system without the backing of a strong economic and social system cannot sustain, and would collapse if it is not synchronized with them. In Pakistan, democracy failed because the economic and social systems of the country are not in line with the true spirit of democracy.
Capitalism is an economic model of democracy that is backed by scientific inventions and knowledge which resultantly promote consumerism in the society. It is the key to understanding the growth model. When growth of a country increases, it surely boosts wealth in that society. In Pakistan, we adhere to capitalism but have failed to transmogrify our system from feudalism to capitalism that is why land is the basic source of wealth in the country even in today’s age of information communication revolution. In feudal model of economics, the growth is very difficult to achieve as it is virtually impossible to increase the landmass of a country. But, the goal can be achieved by increasing crop production but that too needs a shift from feudal approach to the capitalist approach which our society, unfortunately, is not ready to.
Humanism is the social model for the growth of democracy. Humanism means human is the centre of all the decisions. Sovereignty of the people is the major trademark of democracy and the state is not supposed to interfere in the private affairs of the citizens. Rule of law also emanates from this idea of humanism as all humans are equal and should enjoy equal rights and the state is not allowed to discriminate against any citizen on the basis of caste, creed, language or religion. In Western societies, the state also plays the role of family as in case of any problem people are provided with financial, legal and other forms of help. Citizens need not to have strong bonds with extended families and ties; therefore, tribal identity vanished and pressure groups emerged.
In Pakistan, religion is playing a key role in political dispensation of the state. Thus, the state gives utmost importance to religion. Caste does also play an important role of identification and group protection as the state failed to play the role of family as in the West. Freedom and free will are still elusive in Pakistan.
Amidst the prevailing conditions, the political system currently operational in Pakistan is democratic in name but autocratic in nature. This is an opportune time to rethink the problems of Pakistan in a more holistic way and link all the factors in order to pave the way for the advent of a true democratic system in Pakistan. But, it would not be possible without reforming the economic and social structures. It is also important to consider that the social values do not change in days; the process may take decades and even centuries.
