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INTRODUCTION:
The term democracy , like many other terms is often abused and misused. The classic debate one hears is a discussion on the merits and demits of democracy and dictatorship.
DEMOCRACY:
"Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half the time." - E B White The word democracy is derived from two Greek words (demos = the people; kratein = to rule) which literally mean "rule by the people." Democracy may, therefore, be described as a political system in which the people are entitled (through some form of constitutional arrangement) to make the basic determining decisions on important matters of public policy (Holden, 1994) It is further explained in different dimensions as: The term democracy, comes from the Greek: dmokrata meaning thereby rule of the people. Even though there is no specific, universally accepted definition of democracy, there are two principles that any definition of democracy includes: equality and freedom. These principles are reflected in all citizens being equal before the law and having equal access to power, and the freedom of its citizens is secured by legitimized rights and liberties which are generally protected by a constitution.
DICTATORSHIP:
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator, without hereditary ascension. It has three possible meanings. A government controlled by one person or a small group of people. In contemporary usage, dictatorship refers to an autocratic form of absolute rule by leadership unrestricted by law, constitutions, or other social and political factors within the state. Or Dictatorship is a system of government in which a country is ruled by a single individual with absolute power. Dictatorship is a system of government in which the leader or leaders have complete power and cannot be held responsible to the will of people.
ADMINISTRATION REFORMS:
After coming in to the power, the military government first of all tried to reform the administration and discipline. For the complete removal of thieves, robbers, other criminals, the department of police and other related departments were strengthened.
EDUCATIONAL REFORMS:
The commission was established on 30th Dec, 1958 to bring revolutionary measures in the felid of education. Instead of two years degree course four year course was implemented.
INDO-PAK WAR:
On 6th Sep, 1965 India attached Pakistan to lessen the pressure created by Pakistani and Kashmiri public to remove Indian armed forces from the valley. Ayub khan bravely dealt with the tense situation and Pak army successfully defended the borders but due to war India was able to shift the focus of Pak govt. from Kashmir issue.
1962 constitution was abrogated in 1969 when Ayub, who by then had lost the people's confidence, resigned, handing over the responsibility for governing to the army commander in chief General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan.
REVIVAL OF PEACE:
Gen. Yahya khan gave quick attention to remove the unavailability of basic necessities of life.
FOREIGN POLICY:
After coming in to power Mr. Bhutto made a new foreign policy which was based on idea of strengthening the relations with the other countries and also not to join the lobby of the super powers.
NATIONALIZATION OF INDUSTRIES:
Mr. Bhutto was a strong well wisher of the common man, elite class from the past 25 years was exploiting the poor or the common man. Hence on 2nd Jan, 1972 Mr. Bhutto gave ten big industries under the direct control of federation.
HEALTH POLICY:
It was made sure that the medicines and other medical facilities were readily available for the public. A medical industry was also established.
ZIA-UL-HAQ:
After the elections of 1977, PPP got an absolute majority. Opposition parties started making allegations of cheating on PPP. Riots and mobs took place throughout the country. Zia-ul-Haq who was the commander in chief of the armed forces had to step ahead to step ahead and take over the Gov. martial law was imposed on 5th July, 1977. Zia took office as chief martial law administrator said his sole purpose was to hold free and fair elections as early as possible.
DEMISE OF ZIA-UL-HAQ:
General Zias death in C-130 crash revives much awaited democracy and Ms. Benazir Bhutto becomes new Prime Minister of Pakistan.
CHOICE OF CABINET:
Benazir kept the portfolios of finance and defense for herself but appointed a seasoned bureaucrat, Wasim Jafari, as her top adviser on finance and economic affairs.
NAWAZ SHARIF:
PRIVATIZATION:
Privatization has firmly entrenched itself in economic thinking as well as policy the world over especially after the demise of the communist bloc. The privatization commission which was set up 2 months after the Sharif government took over in January 1991 has successful in privatizing units of public sector. These include privatization of two national banks as well. This was a great achievement.
OPPOSITION OF BENAZIR:
The government's chief opposition, Benazir and the PPP, criticized Nawaz Sharif's efforts at privatization, calling them the "loot and plunder" of Pakistan and saying his plan favored large investors and ran roughshod over labor.
MUSHARRAF:
On October 12, 1999 while exercising military invasions over political environment on regularity basis country was once again dragged under the fourth military ruling favored by plane conspiracy. The toppled government of Nawaz Sharif from lost opportunity of contesting elections to imprisonment and then to exile forced General Musharraf to restore democracy. Second time in the history of Pakistan referendum was held and won by General Musharraf.
POLICIES OF MUSHARRAF:
y BD system (the system of nazims, nayab nazims, and union councils) was introduced by Musharraf.
Musharraf aided America and NATO forces with the provision of air bases and in return got a massive amount of financial aid in the form of loans.
Several amendments resulting with the increase in the power of president were made in his tenure.
Severe violation of constitution ended up with the step of having two designations at the same time chief of army staff and the president.
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FACTORS
RESPONSIBLE
FOR
TRANSFORMATION
OF
CIVIL-
MILITARY RELATIONS:
The first conspicuous change in civil-military relations took place in 1958; When Ayub Khan took the power. The second coup took place in 1969(General Yahya Khan) and the third coup in 1977(General Zia-ul-Haq) and the fourth General Pervez Musharraf (from 1999 to 2008). With the exception of the temporary phase of 5.5 years of civilian rule (1972-77), the military have exercised power directly under the
cover of Martial law or the civilianized regime of the former army commander ruled the country. The analyses show that three factors explain the transformation of the civil-military relations. 1. The nature and problems of the civil society. 2. The nature of the military. 3. The interactions across the boundaries of the civil and military domains.
The militarys position was strengthened by Pakistans acute sense of insecurity caused by regional security pressure. The military e\received (and still receives) the largest share of the national budget and was the main beneficiary of Pakistans participation in the western alliance system in the fifties and the sixties.
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2. POLITICS OF HATRED:
Pakistan came in existence in 1947. It came to be known as sovereign independent state but most of the people did not know that it was still in the hands of few powerful people. 22 families acquire more than 90% of wealth of Pakistan and almost all of them are feudal. The feudal played an important role in the creation of Pakistan. Once Quaid-e-Azam said on one occasion, I had got fake coins in my pocket. These feudal have the political and economic power. People had been greatly and are being exploited in this system from the past 63 years. These few corrupt people are using common people purely for their own cause. They dont want to give up their power and authority for the uplift of Pakistan. The people loose trust on the politicians. But unfortunately in history of Pakistani politics we not see such a good and healthy activity. The clashes between PPP and PML in 1990, not only destabilize both the parties but above all it harmed Pakistan. And currently we can also see the political uncertainty, when chief minister of Punjab was dismissed from his post. The PPP should respect the mandate of PML-N in Punjab.
3. INHERITED POLITICS:
Unfortunately in Pakistan the politics is inherited. The feudal, sardars and Wadaira have occupied the markets, economy, industries, and simply they have power in do anything. In rural areas they dont allow the people to get education as these people can revolt against them. So they rule the innocent people while keeping them ignorant. The Pakistan political system has been dominated by few families, who are in parliament and in upper house. Take the example of PPP. We have a leader Bilawal Bhutto. But he has never lived in Pakistan, his education is from abroad, he has never seen the suffering of the common people in Pakistan, he has never traveled in Pakistani public transport. How can I expect him to be a great leader of this country? Our politicians have no faith in our institutions. They called upon Scotland Yard or UN to resolve their domestic issues. Most of the parliamentarians are illiterate and they are there to make law for the people of 160 million people.
ROLE
OF
DEMOCRACY
AND
DICTATORSHIP
IN
TODAYS
PERSPECTIVE:
Today, unfortunately, Pakistan is passing through difficult, delicate and sensitive phase of its history. Its now become not a question of ruling the country, but the intensity of problems demands that now it has become the
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question
of
survival
of
Pakistan.
Pakistan is facing intense external and internal problems. The biggest problems that, now, Pakistan is facing are terrorism suicide attacks. It has completely failed to control this meaner. Its challenging the security of Pakistan. In order to end the terrorism military operation is at its full scale in FATA areas. But this
operation has resulted in displacement of nearly three million people from this region. The issue concerning the internal displaced people (IDPs) is not simply that of displacement; but its also of poverty. The law and order situation has blocked the way of investment. Rather people are shifting their assets to foreign countries due to uncertainty instability in the country. This has also badly affected the economic situation of Pakistan.
CONCLUSION:
It is a matter of a great concern that neither dictatorship nor democratic institution ever employed expeditious accountability cap-a-pie that could assure justice to all the sects of the under developed society. However, new accountability institutions with feasible performances and expeditious services are established each time new government comes in to horizon. But unfortunately the end results contain severe criticism involving only lower cadre or less influential people. That shows the highest degree of corruption and nepotism engaged at each level of accountability dealing with the affluent class. Pakistan is facing many internal and external problems. There is American pressure and now the war against terror has become our own war and our politicians have to accept this. They should unite on one plate form. Imran khan and MMA should support military operation because its a question of survival of Pakistan. The politicians should forget internal conflicts and should think for Pakistan first and foremost. Today, being a nation, we have the challenges of inequality between provinces, regional disparities, economic imbalances, poverty, and inflation and many other issues. Every institution of Pakistan should work with collaboration and cooperation. Military should respect the power of vote of people. They should give the time for democracy to flourish. But it todays difficult time they both must work with each other and should support each other. The issues should be resolved through negotiation and bilateral diplomacy. Our foreign policy should be free and it should take decision in keeping countries benefits. Being a nation we have to pass this phase of history with courage. Such times come in the history of great nations. We have to prove ourselves as a nation, we have to fight this war, we have to save Pakistan, we have to once again sew the seed of peace, love, cooperation, respect, equality and above all seek help from Allah Almighty. May Allah help us to face this difficult time with courage, prayers and above all as one Muslims and one nationAMEEN!
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REFERNCES:
1. http://www.country-data.com/frd/cs/pktoc.html 2. Pakistans Other Story: 9. Dictatorship and Democracy-Regimes changed, the Masses Continue to Suffer, by Lal Khan. (http://www.marxist.com/pakistans-other-story-9.htm) 3. Yasmeen Malik, Democracy or dictatorship. 4. Mahjabeen Agha, Democracy versus Dictatorship: From Pakistan's Perspective. 5. http://www.opinion-maker.org/2010/05/pakistan-democracy-or-dictatorship. 6. Badar Muneer Khan Baigal, Democracy or Dictatorship.
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