Issues and Challenges of Democracy in Pakistan

1.Introduction
At present, Pakistan is plunged into multifaceted issues and challenges of
democracy. These issues and challenges have retarded the socio-
economic and political development of the country.
2. Issues and Challenges of Democracy in Pakistan
I) Mudslinging in the parliament
II) Centralized power politics
III) Politicization of bureaucracy
IV) Economic predicaments
V) Fractured state institutions
VI) Ailing education system
VII) Unconstitutional practices in political parties
3. Way Forward to Overcome These Issues and Challenges of
Democracy in Pakistan
I) Cooperation and collaboration of political parties in the parliament
II) Decentralization of powers and resources
III) Responsive and inclusive state institutions
IV) Revival of education system
V) Culture of constitutional practices
in political parties
VI) collective role of media and civil society
4. Conclusion.
 Issues and Challenges of Democracy in Pakistan

At present, Pakistan is plunged into multifaceted issues and challenges of

democracy. These issues and challenges have retarded the socio-
economic and political development of the country. Needless to say, no
country can run on the road of development and advancement without
ensuring the culture of democracy. Most prominent among them are
mudslinging in the parliament, centralized power politics, politicization of
bureaucracy, economic predicaments, fractured state institutions, ailing
education system, unconstitutional practices in political parties. It is high
time to uplift the norms and values of democratic culture in the country.
This cannot be done by pushing a button. There is a great need to devise a
democratic national action plan to overcome the confronted issues and
challenges of democracy in Pakistan. On the one hand, cooperation and
collaboration of political parties in the parliament, decentralization of
powers and resources, responsive and inclusive state institutions can prove
very vital to uphold the true culture of democracy in the country; while on
the other hand, revival of education system, culture of constitutional
practices in political parties and collective role of media and civil society
can play highly significant role in promoting the democracy in its true
sense. It is hoped that issues and challenges of democracy can be curbed
by taking concerted and full-baked efforts. Practice of true culture of
democracy is only panacea of the all problems of Pakistan.
It is witnessing that democracy of Pakistan is crippled with different
issues and challenges. For the development of democracy in the country,
there is need to highlight/uncover the issues and challenges. The most
highlighted issues and challenges are discussed as:
It is revealed that/It is uncovered that/It is highlighted that/It is
observed that/it is researched that/It is an evident that mudslinging in the
parliament is a major issue and challenge of democracy in Pakistan. No
one can deny the fact that unconstitutional practices of political parties in
the parliament have deteriorated the culture of democracy. At present,
Pakistan is bearing the brunt of these unconstitutional practices in the
Parliament. Needless to say, smooth functioning of the parliament is vital
for the nurturing of democratic norms in one country. It is fact that
democratic norms and values cannot take place in the presence of
mudslinging in Parliament. Unfortunately, democracy of Pakistan is weak
due to the ineffective functioning of the Parliament. For the strengthening of
democracy, it has become essential that Parliament of Pakistan play its
constitutional and fundamental role.
Apart from this, centralized power politics is another uncovered issue
and challenge of democracy in Pakistan. Throughout the political history of
Pakistan, it is gauged that culture of centralized power oriented politics is
dominated and it has discouraged the norms and values of democracy. It is
an admitted fact that local government is always to be neglected and
ignored in terms of powers, resources and developments. It is true that
devolution of power from center to provinces play an important and
instrumental role in empowering democracy. Unsurprisingly, power and
resources are not devolved to the local authorities. Therefore, democracy
of Pakistan is facing issue and challenge of centralized power politics. For
the development of democratic norms and values in the country, there is
need to devolve power and resources to the local bodies.