The Prime Minister’s April 3 surprise came as a bombshell for the opposition but at the cost of a constitutional and political crisis in Pakistan. It has sparked political instability and has put another dent in the democracy of Pakistan with far-reaching consequences. Political polarisation, contempt for the constitution and the law, economic distress, and a weakened parliament are a few. But the drama isn’t new. Such brazen violations of the constitution and realpolitik have always been a part of Pakistan’s political history. It is a power game being played out by the powerful elite only to keep or get hold of power. There is no inclusion of the common masses, their interests or their problems. Pakistan’s political environment has become a theatre of the absurd with no regard for democratic norms.
Since its inception, its political system has been swinging back and forth between a military dictatorship and fragile civil governments. Democracy found little room to deepen its roots. The process of democratic consolidation went into the abyss time and again.
Consequently, it created an institutional imbalance. Democracy has been a disguise for Pakistan’s powerful elite to further their despotic regimes. As democracy stands for free speech, human rights, civil society and free and fair elections; successive governments have always tried to undermine these basic principles of democracy thereby undermining its very core. The draconian PECA 2016 act by PML-N or PTI’s PMDA 2021 was introduced to silence dissenting voices and punish critics for speaking their minds.
Moreover, the dynastic nature of politics leaves little space for more able, decent and capable people from the general public to be leaders and run the country. There are only a few options available to choose from the powerful elite. As they have huge resources and power at their disposal: they are able to keep the competition small and not let commoners join their ranks. This phenomenon can be best explained through the Limited Access Order (LAO), a framework by the World Bank—according to which in a developing country like Pakistan, the resources, rent and property are distributed among the elites. The monopoly over violence is not with the state, but with a group of elites who keep peace because it’s in their interest. Since the resources, rent and property are limited, they limit access to it and rarely allow someone to join their ranks.
Pakistan is a typical example of LAO, where a small group of elites have captured national resources and the commoners can only dream of reaching the corridors of power. Hence, Pakistan’s political system can be best described as a plutocracy, a rule by the wealthy, where the elite are fighting for power to capture state resources to enhance their personal wealth and power. They have no regard for the constitution, the institutions or the rule of law. While the masses suffer from a dwindling economy, massive inflation, corruption and institutional erosion, the powerful elite are playing a game of musical chairs around the throne with no settled principles of morality.
For Pakistan to prosper, the ruling elite must develop a new charter of democracy with the interests of the common masses at its centre, otherwise the petty power games may result in further chaos and eventually packing up of the whole system. As Leo Tolstoy in his Novel “War and Peace” explained, “it’s the common people, not a few privileged ones, that have the power to change destiny and the course of history.” Investment in the common masses can bring about real change in the fate of Pakistan.
Since its inception, its political system has been swinging back and forth between a military dictatorship and fragile civil governments. Democracy found little room to deepen its roots. The process of democratic consolidation went into the abyss time and again.
Consequently, it created an institutional imbalance. Democracy has been a disguise for Pakistan’s powerful elite to further their despotic regimes. As democracy stands for free speech, human rights, civil society and free and fair elections; successive governments have always tried to undermine these basic principles of democracy thereby undermining its very core. The draconian PECA 2016 act by PML-N or PTI’s PMDA 2021 was introduced to silence dissenting voices and punish critics for speaking their minds.
Moreover, the dynastic nature of politics leaves little space for more able, decent and capable people from the general public to be leaders and run the country. There are only a few options available to choose from the powerful elite. As they have huge resources and power at their disposal: they are able to keep the competition small and not let commoners join their ranks. This phenomenon can be best explained through the Limited Access Order (LAO), a framework by the World Bank—according to which in a developing country like Pakistan, the resources, rent and property are distributed among the elites. The monopoly over violence is not with the state, but with a group of elites who keep peace because it’s in their interest. Since the resources, rent and property are limited, they limit access to it and rarely allow someone to join their ranks.
Pakistan is a typical example of LAO, where a small group of elites have captured national resources and the commoners can only dream of reaching the corridors of power. Hence, Pakistan’s political system can be best described as a plutocracy, a rule by the wealthy, where the elite are fighting for power to capture state resources to enhance their personal wealth and power. They have no regard for the constitution, the institutions or the rule of law. While the masses suffer from a dwindling economy, massive inflation, corruption and institutional erosion, the powerful elite are playing a game of musical chairs around the throne with no settled principles of morality.
For Pakistan to prosper, the ruling elite must develop a new charter of democracy with the interests of the common masses at its centre, otherwise the petty power games may result in further chaos and eventually packing up of the whole system. As Leo Tolstoy in his Novel “War and Peace” explained, “it’s the common people, not a few privileged ones, that have the power to change destiny and the course of history.” Investment in the common masses can bring about real change in the fate of Pakistan.