Democracy And Provincial Autonomy

By definition democracy is the government by the people, of the people and for the people. In our country there has never been a democracy in the real sense but we had some spells of civilian rules. So the governments, which came in to power were by the people, but was never of the people and for the people. It was just to cheat the people. There was no difference in the mental make up of the civilian rulers and military dictators. Basically the people damn care,
Who is ruling them, but how they are being ruled?
Democracy as such, is not an ideal system but has no better alternative. The more it gets maturity, the better it gets. It is unfortunate that in Pakistan it has always been nipped in the bud. Ideally the system in its true form; does not exist anywhere in the world. Even the U.N.O. is being run undemocratically. But a comparative study can be made.
There is no a universally tailored suit of democracy, to fit every nation. Every nation has to go through a process to reach a stage and tailor the system according to its own circumstances. Unfortunately U.S. wanted to force the world to adopt their system and look like a band of bandmasters. During Bush & Dick administration it was too evident. Forgetting that the first term of Bush; was hardly of democratic in nature. It is a system to be evolved by the people. It is not some thing to be exported or imported.
It hardly matters, whether a system is parliamentary or presidential but the essential factor, is the inbuilt accountability of the rulers by the be-ruled. It also depends on the geographical structure of the country in question. It is unfortunate that quite often, democracy has been misinterpreted and abused. Most commonly the people consider it, the rule of the majority. Yes it is one of the aspect, but more important is the accommodation of minority and a mechanism to have continuous accountability, to stop the abuse of authority, by majority. At no point the public say should be ignored. It is a form of collective leadership and the minority should not be refranchised.
The global population is now a mix race. A nation might have a majority in a piece of a land but in its purest shape, not conceivable. The solution to this problem is; to take the geography, cultural background and history in to consideration too. According to Russell, “the more we are near to these natural factors, the greater will be the intrinsic strength and cohesion of the society or country. After all this is a question of common sense that there are roughly 6000 languages in the world and 190+ countries. So a pure racial administrative unit is not a logical thinking. A system has to be evolved that the majority does get its due status; but minority languages and cultural entities are not to be swallowed or extinct, but preserved and protected.
In a democratic set up, it is not only the fair distribution of the resources but the protections of other factors too. Human dignity and national identity should not be robbed, as it promotes internationalism as pointed out by Bertrand Russell. More are the cultural entities; the more colourful will be the society. It is not only hunger but also human aspirations that must be taken in to account
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Sometime religious groups think, that it is not in conformity with religion. I agree with them, but it is not even against religion. In my view; Islam takes it a step forward, that the sovereignty lies with Allah and the elected people being the viceroys of Allah. So they have to face double accountability; to Allah and the Electoral College. The idea of devolution of power, provincial autonomy and local government stems from the basic fact, that more people should be involved at every level and made accountable. On one hand it promotes local developments, on the other, it provides chance to the people from the gross roots to go through a process and take over the leadership of the country. In Pakistan instead of power, corruption was taken to the roots. The dictators did it cleverly, as corrupt masses cannot challenge corrupt masters. The other injustice which was done to the system that instead of creating a system, which could produce leadership from the root level, the agents were created to serve the vested interest.
If properly implemented it discourage the centralisation of authority to a person or to an institution and broaden public base. The centre should devolve it to provinces, states or nations and they should in turn devolve it to district and tehsils. The basic aim is, to give the feeling of participation and to provide the facilities at doorstep. This is one of the best systems in available circumstances. What happened in Pakistan that Ayub khan did it to limit the Electoral College and Musharaf devolved corruption to the root level? I was basically further centralisation of power and negation or refusal of the autonomy to the provinces. It was not the jurisdiction of the centre, but right of the provinces. The system is essential part of democracy and provincial autonomy but the implication, execution and intentions were undemocratic and vicious. It was more politically motivated than developmentally. It is the absence of this system that most of our leadership is imposed on us from the top and have no knowledge of the problems of a common man. If a system is abused it is not the fault of the system but of the abuser.
Some time one start really questions his own mind, that why does this system fails so often to work in Muslim world? Do we lack the tolerance and the courage to be accountable? If we trace our history back, either this system of collective leadership has been sidelined or has been dubbed as un-Islamic. Another point to be noted; there is no mechanism of peaceful transition of power. From very early days of Islam every transition of power had some serious casualties and was stained with blood. One must understand the difference between power of a sovereign and delegated power. In our religion sovereign is God, only. Delegated power underlines, the issue of accountability. I have not seen that any of our leaders has been made accountable for their deeds. And more interestingly none of them has received the verdict of guilty from our courts when they were in power. To the contrary their unconstitutional acts have always been provided judicial protection. When there is no fear of accountability the delegated powers are used as absolute power, with absolute corrupt intentions. The power corrupts and absolute power corrupt absolutely. The corrupt leadership corrupt the system. This is the play going on in Pakistan.
Pakistan is in a grave danger. In my view the main danger is internal. The most important political and constitutional issues been ignored, which are eroding the basis of the country. The main issue is the devolution of Power or in other words provincial autonomy. The Pakistan of Jinnah ( 1947-1972) was an imbalance Pakistan. The only nation who voted for Pakistan, The Bengali, was 54% of the total population. Who were refused autonomy in the name of Islam? Parity of the two wings was introduced to convert the majority to parity and to take away the identity of the three small nations in the west wing. The base of power, civilian or military, derived its strength from Punjab. It was the basically the Ashrafia of that province, enjoying the by products of political strength.
Gen Yahiya held the election on the basis of one-man, one vote but was not honoured, by Yahiya and Mr. Bhutto according to Larkana plan and the country was split in to two. It was the second time that Muslims were divided for the sake of power. India was provided an opportunity to prove the two-nations theory wrong just 23 years after its invention. No body came out to defend Islam and big brother concept. Nazrul Islam was slaughtered by Alla ditta in the slum of Dacca.
Like the Pakistan of 1947, the new Pakistan was again an imbalance Pakistan. Now Punjab had 62 % numerical strength and was the base of power.
In both cases it was the top priority to solve the question of devolution of power and reassure the smaller nations that they’re right to rule their respective provinces with financial, cultural, linguistic and historical identity. As their fear had increased in intensity; that if 54% majority, one thousand miles away, can be given such a horrifying blood bath for using the power of ballot, what could be their future? Collectively having 34% population, with no military and industrial might on their back? The close geographical proximity to the new Big Brother was another genuine concern.
Neither it is acceptable in Islam nor democracy that the Big brother should make the smaller as slaves. In both systems, even if a brother is handicapped and small, but has the equal right to the bigger and stronger one. The fear had logic and the logic proved itself to be true, when six months later, the governments in Pukhtoonkhwa and Baluchistan were dissolved, the entire leadership was arrested along with thousands of workers and the rest went in to hidings. All were charged for high treason and those forces that committed the high treason were made the rulers. The remaining Pakistan was basically saved; by the then opposition who dropped the demand to have a fresh mandate in the new country and just insisted for a federal and democratic Pakistan. These were not illogical demands. This was a new Pakistan, with completely different geo- political structure. Mr. Bhutto was having the same dilemma, as faced by Mujib. He had no representation in NWFP and Baluchistan. In the greater interest of the integrity of the remaining Pakistan, a new constitution was drafted. Bhutto came across to the opposition leader; Late Wali khan, to request him to drop further demand of Provincial Autonomy, pointing his finger to Gen; Tikka, in the Gallery, he is ready to take over. The constitution was accepted unanimously but with a condition that the question of quantum of provincial autonomy particularly and the revision of the whole, will be carried out after 5 years. The co-author of 1973 constitution did not rule the country constitutionally, nor the emergency was lifted for a single day during his tenure. Military action started in Baluchistan. FSF (A PARAMILITARY FORCE) committed the most heinous crimes against the opposition leaders and his own members, who tried to defy him like Miraj Mohammad khan. Sardar Atta u Allah Maingal’s son eyes were enucleated by a Col; of FSF and were brought to Jinnah hospital to show him, while he was in bed with a heart attack. The infamous Liaquat Bagh firing took place during that time. We took 23 dead bodies back to our province, as I was watching the might of the mighty governor of Punjab , Mustafa Khar. It must be surprising for the readers that 4 years old son of Ajmal Khattak along with his mother were detained in Police stations for Anti State activities.
The amendments in 73 constitutions were started by Late Bhutto and are continuing till to day. Zia and Musharaf completely changed the shape.
The constitution of 73, didn’t work at that time and it is beyond any wild imagination that it can protect the interest of smaller nations.
After its promulgation there have been two very strong civilian Prime Ministers; Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. Both have rapped the constitution, without having the slightest guilt complex. Killing of Bugti, the bloody drama of Malakand division, FATA and its fall out on the districts has strengthened our beliefs that in present we are not safe. (Ref. Major general Qureshi on ARY). Pakistan as a state is not viable in present form, not because of any external threat; but the internal breaches.
Pakistan needs a completely new democratic, federal constitution, with guaranteed political and financial provincial autonomy, with historical sanctity. We do accept that the present government has failed to give transparent and good governance but looking at the alternative; Mian sahib, and remembering his rule with 2/3rd majority in the parliament, sends cold wave in our spines. Any way Mian Sahib is least likely to join the present parliament. In present circumstances, to be the leader of opposition is not a joke. You have to be equipped with political wisdom and acumen and strength of character, to change the direction of the internal and external policies. I hope I am wrong but I don’t see that sort of man in him.
If the country has to be held together; it has to be strong, fair and prosperous internally, to be respected externally. You cannot demand respect and equality; one has to learn how to earn it? You can borrow money with pre-conditions but can’t beg, with preconditions. We have lost sovereignty long ago. Without An exception or two have been sold several time as a country. Now to win it back, it will be the internal strength, if we gain it. Let us forget USA, UK, SAUDI ARABIA fiddling in our internal affairs, if they are, who gave them this chance? The last part to be answered and must be addressed to. Even influential business Tycoons of Middle East have been involved to settle out political and judicial problem like MR. Hariri of Lebanon, when Mian sahib returned to the country during Musharaf time and was escorted back by Hariri. Was he uninvited intermediary or was invited by Musharaf to insult our judiciary?
It is the scream of time. We must disengage from the ideology of Pakistan, strong centre or big brother concept. We must build a democratic union of states with enshrined respect for human dignity and national identities. The trump card is in the hands of Punjab to act now or never. The smaller parties should share each other ideas and experiences and put their cards on the table.
We condemn state or political atrocities of all natures. We demand full fledge judicial enquiry of all these judicial or extra judicial murders; but there is a big “BUT” that these heinous crimes were not committed in late sixties or late eighties. Pakistan came in to being in 1947, much before those two periods. These sort crimes were committed from the day one. We should not forget those who have laid their lives for fair play and justice from day one. We should not forget those who were killed in the dark streets of our short history. We must not forget those; who stood up to the people who were given the status of prophets, what to say of dictators.
It was disgusting on the part of our leaders not to move a resolution in the opening session of National Assembly to ask for apology to the Martyrs of Babra and Liaquat Bagh.
By. Dr. Khurshid Alam………………………………… khurshidalam5@hotmail.com
London ..Dated 6th October 2009.

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