DEMOCRACY

NOTES FOR ESSAY

 WHAT IS DEMOCRACY
• GOVT. OF MAJORITY(LITERAL MEANING)
 DEMOCRACY PRINCIPLES
• FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOM AND RIGHTS
People can control 3 pillars by system
Inherent to individuality is rights: life, property, civil, third generation
rights(not fixed and evolve)
Regulation: ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ evolved one.
Commissions and sub- commissions to ensure its effectiveness. UN
supported by NGOs.
• ELECTIONS
These are the texts of ELECTORAL LAW; active EL: right to vote and passive
EL: right to be elected.
Tenets of democratic elections: Free, equitable, transparent, secrete, regular
elections, effective results.
Absolute majority and Proportional system in elections.
• RULE OF LAW
Executive works wrt law
Principles: independence of judiciary, security right
• SEPARATION OF POWERS
3 organs
Role of constitution
Parliamentary and presidential form of govts.
• THE PARLIAMENT
Proposes laws
Great role of opposition
Elects HOG and members of the HC of justice(mostly)
Majority and consensus principles
• DEMOCRATIC PLURALISM
Respect, acceptance and recognition of all point of views.
However, influence of some groups still exists; therefore, state plays a significant role.
• GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION
Democratic culture prevails as a result of their conflicting views.
CIP: AFRICAN COUNTRIES IN 80S chosen democratic transformation the
“OPPOSITION CHARTER” constitutes the judicial foundation for the opposition work.
• PUBLIC OPINION AND FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA
To control politicians
Media: “forth power”
“freedom house”: entails freedom of press in many countries.
DEMOCRACY DOESN’T KEEP UP ALL
ALONE
• DECENTRALISATION
Pol. Participation can inc.
• DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE
Exercise of a power
Justice, equality, transparency, tolerance, rule of law, efficiency, efficacy
• POLITICAL EDUCATION
“aversion for politics” (no knowledge of politics)
 THE PROMISE OF DEMOCRACY AND
PAKISTAN
• People choose and pursue the interests of people; however, pre-poll rigging,
gerrymandering, violence in and around the polling station
CIP: Daska elections, missing polling agents
• Checks; on the other hand, legal but illegitimate, a bill was passed to inc. their salaries
and perks while people suffered from a shrinking economy, unemployment, inflation,
and crippling tax hikes.
• Courts must have limited tolerance for irregularities in polls. However, This function has
been granted to the ECP under Article 218 of the Constitution. The ECP under Article
218, and Section 9 of the Elections Act 2017, may call for re-election of an entire
constituency in situations where there are grave illegalities, or violations of the law,
that, in turn, affect the result of an election. The appeal from the ECP’s decision lies to
the Supreme Court.
Supreme powers of SC in Pakistan, Writ of Quo Warranto
 DEMOCRAY AND CONSTRUCTIVISM
• Democracy: socially constructed
• US foreign policy: spread of democracy (war on Iraq and Afghanistan)
• Democratic state can progress! What about China then(constructed
reality)
 WHAT DEMOCRACY IS NOT?
• Successful and proficient economically.
• Better administration.
• Good governance(CIP : Pakistan)
• May not bring positive changes (CIP: Arab Spring in the Middle East
except Tunisia)
CIP: sectarian violence in Afghanistan in the post US withdrawal.
 CHALLENGES OF DEMOCRACY IN
PAK
• Lack of democratic norms (lack to fulfill pre-election promises)
• Constitutions and ruling parties (in their interests)
• Role of political parties and democracy(CIP: PMLNs supporters
attacked the premised of SCP in Nov, 1997)
• Role of state Institutions in protecting citizens (initiated Zarb-e-Azb in
this regards)
• Lack of credibility of elections (blamed rigging).
• Communication gap between political parties and public.
 WAY FORWARD
• Role of 3 pillars in pk.
• Influence of monetary donors must be controlled
• Merit in all institutions
• Civil-military cooperation
• Education
• Decided dates of elections (US )
• Rising religious intolerance and violence
• CIP:Aasia bibi case and Labaik leaderships immunity 2018.
• MILITANTS DEEPEN THEIR POLITICAL CLOUT
• Cip: jamaat-ud-daawa x lashkar-e-Tayyaba (responsible for 2008 Mumbai
attacks) entered politics by military
• Grey list in 2018 by Organization for economic cooperation and
development (OECD) ; hence, banned JD.
• Not end of violence but a deliberate strategy
• CRACKDOWNS HEIGHTEN POLITICAL TURMOIL (terror attacks during
elections)
• ENGAGING WITH PK
• Push pak to take steps (EU)
• Amend blasphemy laws to save innocents
• Work with FATF(to abjure violence and other forms of jihadists
parties)
 CATCHY LINES
1. “Education makes a people easy to lead but difficult to derive;
easy to govern but impossible to enslave.”
2. E.M. Foster, a renowned English novelist and essayist once
commented: “Two cheers for democracy. One Because it admits
variety and two because it allows criticism.”