Dreaming Democracy!
By Syed Osman Sher
Mississauga, Canada
The nation rejoices on the prospects of election 2008. Undoubtedly, democracy is the mode of expression for the common people as to what they want; and, of course, they deserve to get it good and hard. But even under the democratic processes, whether it was only a semblance of democracy, did those who claim to be its champion show willingness to hear the voices of the people?
The conditions in Pakistan are such that true democracy can never be produced irrespective of how many elections you hold. Democracy is the product of free will of people, which is possible only when the population is empowered and has a free choice. But the majority of population in Pakistan is a captive one. Most part of the country is under the feudal system where the nawabs, jagirdars, vaderas, sirdars etc. are the owners of land, while the tillers of the land live like subjects. Virtually the landlords govern their lives, and whenever elections are held only they own their votes. They are at the steering chairs, and they are on the opposition seats at the same time. In Pakistan, even political parties are being treated as jagirs, assigned through wills to inexperienced heirs and run by regents. People and their voices do not matter for those democrats.
Those elements are thus always being elected which preach to the people to be the great arsenal of democracy but themselves are least concerned with reforms in the society and welfare of the people, lest their own privileges are transferred to the masses, and they lose the clout. Not only this, in the past they have opposed tooth and nail those who have dared act in that direction. For Pakistan, how true becomes the saying: “Democracy is the name we give the people whenever we need them.”
In the past, Europe too had the feudal system. Knowing fully well that democracy will only be a farce under such a system, they got rid thereof. Why India today is acclaimed worldwide as a democratic nation despite its illiteracy and poverty? Before Independence the Congress party had announced demolition of the feudal system. True to their word, they did so immediately after Partition. They not only subjected big and small zamindars and jagirdars to this treatment, but also the princes even as big as the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Raja of Kashmir. The Indian voters are not under such subjection as they are in Pakistan
To protect their jagirs the landholders held high the banner of the Muslim League, which was demanding partition of the country. In the partitioned part they would be safe from the clutches of the Congress. Later after Independence, if East Pakistan showed democratic temperament, that too would be cast away. True to their intention, they are reaping the fruits today, and denying the country true democracy.
Democracy will remain elusive unless this vicious circle is broken. Out goes Tweedledum, in comes Tweedledee. While looking with awe at them, Alice hears one of them saying: “If you think we're wax-works, you ought to pay, you know. Wax-works weren't made to be looked at for nothing.”
How long the people of Pakistan will be paying
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