Sham
Democracy
By
Dr. Farhana Mohamed Khan
South Pasadena, CA
Wonder why in America
democracy (or even in India) is a sustained reality
and in Pakistan it continues to be a fleeting
fantasy? With true democracy comes the sovereignty
of people, where the elected leaders are responsible
for bringing positive changes in peoples’
lives, are accountable to their constituents,
act ethically, and show fiscal responsibility
(or else they are shown the door) - most of these
characteristics are absent from the Pakistani
sarkari scene.
The United States
is the mightiest country in the world with a GDP
(gross domestic product) of almost $11 trillion
but a cabinet comprising of mere 15 members. Compare
this to Pakistan: the country has a GDP of $0.318
trillion but a massive cabinet of 64 Federal and
State Ministers. If one includes 26 parliamentary
secretaries and 30 Chairpersons of Commissions
or Standing Committees (with similar federal ministerial
privileges) then the Pakistan cabinet makes up
a staggering number of 120. Vow! Most of these
highly paid Ministers of State, with spectacular
privileges, are no more than interns-on-training
with absolutely no administrative, or leadership
background. The only thing going for them is strong
political or feudal nepotism. As Kashmala Tariq,
MNA and herself member of the sarkari Party (Pakistan
Muslim League -Q), declared, “All the Mazari,
Leghari and Bazari (low street people) have joined
the cabinet.”
While the current
Pakistani government does not stop trumpeting
the improved macro economic indicators during
the five-year Musharraf era, one wonders how long
it will take for the micro indicators to improve.
While the Pakistani masses are coaxed to appreciate
the $12 billion reserves (mostly amassed due to
the post-9/11 remittances sent by the expatriate
Pakistanis), the country slid on the UN Human
Development Index from 128th rank in 2002 to 144th
in 2003. In Pakistan, highly gullible masses are
made fools by confusing them with the macro and
micro economic indicator jargon. In America, a
President has to demonstrate blanket improvement
of all the economic indicators during only four
years of his office - no confusion here. In India,
the Vajpayee government was thrown out of power
this year because Indian masses felt that the
“Shining India” slogan pushed by the
sarkari VJP eroded their quality of life. So,
despite a very good performance with the macro
indicators, the Vajpayee government was dismissed
- only because democracy worked there.
The US Presidential
elections, especially presidential debates, are
spectacular examples of how candidates stand before
the public (not VIPs), defend their record, and
prove their worthiness for the job. For instance
during the last two debates, both President Bush
and Senator John Kerry fielded questions from
the undecided voters. Their responses were strictly
monitored for the allocated time by the non-sarkari
media facilitators. Another amazing thing was
the mastery on policy issues and statistical wizadry
demonstrated by both candidates - that showed
how seriously both wanted to sound credible and
knowledgeable before the masses.
Now let’s
discuss the sarkari VVIP culture of Pakistan.
During the recent Defense Expo held in Karachi,
all the highways leading to the Expo site were
closed to public traffic for several days. While
the sarkari VVIP motorcades zoomed on the highways,
Karachiites, who provide 70% revenue to the national
exchequer, were blatantly prohibited from using
the public highways made from their blood and
sweat resulting in immense hardships. Compare
that to the USA. While much more strategic security
is kept in mind here to protect the political
figures, usually the streets are closed for through
traffic only long enough to allow the passage
of VIP motorcades or for the duration of a political
gathering - usually no longer than few minutes
to several hours. In addition, both major presidential
candidates’ websites alert the local public
about the upcoming political rallies in their
area.
As for Pakistan,
what is unconscionable is that the sarkari VVIP
culture only protects its own but ignores to safeguard
places of worship (despite several attacks in
the past).
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