Democracy in Pakistan: The Past, Present and Future Prospects 2023
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Democracy in Pakistan
This essay “Democracy in Pakistan: The Past, Present and Future Prospects” delves into the past, present, and future prospects of democracy in Pakistan. It highlights the challenges and successes of Pakistan’s democratic journey, including military intervention, corruption, and the role of the military in politics. Despite these challenges, democracy has survived and evolved, with the current government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
However, corruption and the military’s influence on politics remain significant obstacles to Pakistan’s democracy. Nevertheless, there are reasons for optimism, including Pakistan’s young and politically aware population, an active media, and civil society organizations working to promote democracy and human rights. The future of democracy in Pakistan is uncertain but addressing these challenges will be crucial to its success.
Pakistan is a country that gained independence in 1947 and adopted a democratic system of government in 1956. Since then, democracy has been a part of Pakistan’s political landscape, but it has been a tumultuous journey. Despite its challenges, democracy in Pakistan has survived and continues to evolve. This essay will explore the past, present, and future prospects of democracy in Pakistan, highlighting its successes and challenges along the way.
Past:
Pakistan’s democratic journey began in 1956 when the country adopted its first constitution. However, the first democratic government was short-lived, as it was overthrown by a military coup in 1958. This set the stage for a pattern of military intervention in politics that has continued to this day. Between 1958 and 1971, Pakistan was under military rule, with brief interludes of civilian government. In 1971, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) seceded, and Pakistan was left with a truncated state.
In 1972, Pakistan adopted a new constitution, and democratic rule was restored. However, this government was also short-lived, as it was dismissed by the military in 1977. The military government, led by General Zia-ul-Haq, ruled Pakistan until 1988 when elections were held, and a civilian government was established. This government was again dismissed by the military in 1999 and General Pervez Musharraf took power.
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Present:
After the military coup in 1999, General Pervez Musharraf ruled Pakistan for almost a decade. In 2007, he declared a state of emergency, and the constitution was suspended. However, Musharraf’s rule ended in 2008, and democratic rule was restored. Since then, Pakistan has had a series of democratic governments, with the most recent elections held in 2018. The government was led by Prime Minister Imran Khan who unfortunately was dethroned by vote of no confidence in April 2022 and once again the pages of history remained devoid of having a premier to complete his five years term. .
Despite the restoration of democracy, Pakistan continues to face challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the role of the military in politics. The military has a significant influence on Pakistan’s politics, and it has been accused of interfering in democratic processes. Another challenge is corruption which is a pervasive problem in Pakistan’s political system. Corruption has undermined the legitimacy of democratic institutions and eroded public trust in democracy.
Future :
The future of democracy in Pakistan is uncertain, but there are reasons for optimism. Pakistan has a young and educated population that is increasingly politically aware. The media is also playing an active role in exposing corruption and holding politicians accountable. Civil society organizations are also working to promote democracy and human rights.
However, there are also challenges to democracy in Pakistan’s future. The military continues to play a significant role in politics, and there are concerns that it may once again intervene in democratic processes. Corruption remains a significant challenge, and there are doubts about the ability of the government to tackle this issue effectively.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, democracy in Pakistan has had a tumultuous journey. Despite its challenges, it has survived and continues to evolve. The past has been marked by military intervention, but the present is characterized by the restoration of democratic rule. The future prospects of democracy in Pakistan are uncertain, but there are reasons for optimism. However, challenges such as corruption and the military’s role in politics must be addressed if democracy is to thrive in Pakistan.
References:
- Khan, A. R. (2016). Pakistan: A Political History. Karachi: Oxford University Press.
- Malik, I. A. (2014). Democracy in Pakistan: Crises, Conflicts, and Hope. New York: Columbia University Press.
- Ahmed, I. (2018). Pakistan: A Personal History. London: Penguin Books.
- Haqqani, H. (2010). Pakistan: Between Mosque and Military. Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.