What Ails Pakistan

What Ails Pakistan

The basis of democratic state is liberty, proclaimed Aristotle - the Greek philosopher, some 20 centuries earlier and since then human kind has strived to define and re-define democracy keeping this principle at the very heart in any democratic state.

But why is liberty so fundamentally important?

The answer to this might lie in how human brain functions. Neurophysiology has determined brain operates most effectively in conditions of freedom, where the mind is not limited to one set of data or one intellectual approach selected for it by some external authority, be it an educational system, religion or state ideology. Essentially attesting, freedom is a basic necessity similar to food, shelter or health. And liberty is simply a more collective synonym for freedom. Now with this fact known - How best could any nation-state ensure and create conditions where individual freedom-liberty exists?

Before answering this question, it’s important to see if there exists fundamental data to substantiate the above claim of neurophysiologists. As a result, we begin by observing the trajectory various nations have taken in pursuit of individual freedom and their state of human development and economic progress. For the purpose of comparing apples to apples, we chose Pakistan and Malaysia – both nations are multi-ethnic, multi-religious, predominantly Muslim, medium sized nations receiving freedom from British with a span of similar decade and having chosen democracy as its model of governance.

Malaysia is home to diverse ethnicities constituting Malay, Chinese, Indian and Indigenous people; where majority of its citizen practice Islam. GDP per capita of Malaysia was $10,380 (2012), with population below poverty at 3.8% (2009), unemployment rate of 3% (2012) and overall GDP at $303billion (2012) of which $227billion (2012) is through exports.

In terms of human development, Malaysia’s literacy rate was 92% (2008), with government spending 34.35% (2010) on post-secondary education. Life expectancy rate of average Malaysian is 74years and ranks 26^th in the world on quality of health care system.

Similar to Malaysia, Pakistan is also home to diverse ethnicities constituting Punjabis, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Mohajirs and Balochs and, as well diverse religions, with majority population practicing Islam. However, unlike Malaysia, Pakistan ranks poorly both on economic and human development index. Pakistan’s GDP per capita was $1290 (2012), 1/10^th of Malaysia. People below poverty are at 22% (2006), six times greater than Malaysia with overall GDP of $231billion (2012), of which exports constitute only $24billion (2012).

Literacy rate in Pakistan was 53% (2008), with government spending meager 2.17% (2012) on education compared to 34.35% by Malaysia. Life expectancy rate is 65years, ranking 61^st on quality of health care system. Further, Malaysia spends 1.30% of GDP on R&D in comparison to 0.29% spend by Pakistan.

Observing these facts, one wonders – despite similarity in ingredients, why has Malaysia prospered and Pakistan lagged behind?

Nations are not infrastructure or natural resources or merely a boundary; rather nation is a collection of individuals binded by a common idea within a confined geography. The idea of Pakistan i.e. nazaria-e-pakistan, was and has ever since remained negation of why they are not Indian, why they are not a product of sub continental culture and values. And this very essence of negation has led it into a negative spiral of denial of history & facts, and imposed a constant struggle to prove the negation is real. This need for psychological negation, over the years, has been so deeply and systematically ingrained by state that any other idea of state is seen as a threat to the survivability of nation itself, resulting in intellectual stunting of its citizens into limited space and ideological prejudice that does not enable them to freely question, doubt and expose themselves to varied ideas so necessary for individual brain development and nation bulding.

And, Pakistan’s army has taken upon itself the sole protector and guarantor of the idea of Pakistan. So much so that only four years after its inception an unsuccessful coup attempt was made against the first prime minister of Pakistan, Liaqat Ali Khan. And, ever since Pakistan army has been ruling country either directly (three successful coup attempts were made 1958-1971, 1977-1988, 1999-2008) or indirectly, of course in their self proclaimed pursuit to preserve the idea of Pakistan.

Pakistan army through its propaganda, narrative building and rumoring mongering machinery has successfully conditioned minds of its citizens that politicians compromise the interest of Pakistan and the only well wisher and savior of this country is Army. Though, the primary reason for army’s continuous involvement in political process of the country and resisting democratic development is - it provides escape from accountability.

Pakistan army in pursuit of its ideological goals has initiated wars beginning with 1948 war with India on Kashmir which led to Kashmir issue unresolved till today, 1965 war with more loss at hand, Fall of Dhaka 1971, Kargil war which led to loss of 100s of soldiers just because of the suicidal plan of an ambitious general, and it’s nurturing of “strategic assets” who have killed thousands of innocent Pakistanis in last fifteen years, selective war on terror with immunity given to “good Taliban” who attack neighboring countries.

The recent, yet not the first, disqualification of a sitting prime minister (Nawaz Sharif) by the supreme court of Pakistan on technicalities unrelated to the actual scandal is case in point. The decision though considered flawed and rather a conspiracy against the democratic process by most ‘liberal civil society’ activists hasn’t been able to ignite people to come out on the streets and resist Pakistan army’s obscene intervention through judiciary. This says a lot about the effectiveness of its carefully curated narrative over many years of power, bestowing itself unquestionable supra-rights, which has stunted the ability of its citizen to see the obvious.

While army and judiciary are to be condemned for their role in derailing democracy, politicians also wear the crown of aiding non-civilian forces against their political rivals. Both Nawaz and Benazir Bhutto toppled each other’s governments in 90s with help of secret hands. And though, the two biggest parties have since realized being played in the hands of establishment and signed the famous “Charter of Democracy”, committing themselves to stand by democracy in country, the Pakistan army managed to out wit both by springing new player Imran Khan and thus ensuring democracy never takes roots inside Pakistan.

Given Pakistan’s trajectory – it is no revelation that in comparison to Malaysia it falters in all aspects of human development and economic prosperity.

Best recourse for a brighter future of Pakistan

In a fully functioning democracy, people should have effective participation in policy making, citizens control the agenda, voting rights are equal and people have option to learn, discuss alternatives and consequences of any policy, no information remains inaccessible by people or their representatives. People have basic fundamental rights, beginning with freedom of thought and expression, equality and right to life, which cannot be undone even by majority rule. Democracy naturally, though chaotic, in the long run strives for “public good” and fosters human development in terms of health, education, income, etc.

And in a country such as Pakistan which is rich in diversity where culture changes every ten miles, only a collaboratory system like parliamentary democracy is best suited as it provides representation to all segments of the society and creates harmony within the country, empowering people to thoughtfully question, debate and decide their destiny without fear or prejudice.

Pakistan’s smaller provinces have long had grievances regarding the share of resources they get, it was only made possible by a democratically elected government that provinces were given autonomy and control of their own resources. A centrist approach for such ethnically diverse country is perilous as it deprives people of their identity and representation. In an autocratic regime, interests of the ruler and not the ruled are taken into account. This is the reason why we have Balochistan issue at hand. Smaller ethnicities like Mohajirs, Sindhis, Pakhtoons and Balochs maintain a sense of resentment against the state, thanks to the destructive policies of dictators.

For Pakistan to unshackle itself out of this negative ideological spiral and pursue development, it is very important that democratic sense prevails in the society. Rights and choices of people from different groups are respected. Ensure every institution performs within its constitutionally defined role. Acceptance and tolerance in behaviors will turn this otherwise underdeveloped society into a moderate inclusive one. Democracy needs time and process continuity to show its fruitful outcomes. There is no quick fix, no short cuts. People need to trust their elected representatives and if they don’t prove themselves, same people reserve the right to replace them with better ones but only through vote. People should stop looking for a savior who will come and solve their problems.

In short, liberty and democracy is the only antidote to what ails Pakistan.

Vive la liberte.

Shalom

Gernailsaheb & AKiyani

Published by DailyO: https://www.dailyo.in/politics/pakistan-terrorism-education-india-pak-kashmir-bangladesh/story/1/20015.html