Mockery of democracy

82 year olds and 72 year olds, 2 year olds and 2 months old, on buses and on foot, in their houses and cars, on the roundabouts and the traffic lights, all got the same butchery. Gates barged, doors broken, gas shells poured, batons bashed, windows crashed, bodies cut, and blood flowing. These were the images not from state carrying out Zarb e Asb operation against hardened terrorists, but police operations against senior citizens, women carrying infants and unarmed youth trying to exercise their democratic right to protest. The scenes the world saw on 26th May on the streets of Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi were horrifying and heart-breaking.

All this in the name of democracy, rule of law, the writ of the state, of preventing anarchy. All this in the name of whatever one wants to name it. Democracy is based on three basic foundational principles. i.e legal equality, political freedom and rule of law. The principle of legal equality requires a systematic rule of law that observes due process to provide equal justice, and requires equal protection ensuring that no individual nor group of individuals be privileged over others by the law. Political freedom is the right to choose, vote, speak, protest, agitate etc. The very difference between dictatorship and democracy is that the will of the people is paramount over the dictates of the government. What we have seen in the last few weeks are scenes that appear to be from some Latin American military coups or from movies that show the wild West being run through organized crime. Let us see how this tragedy of democracy is being enacted in the country:

1. Leading by example – The leader shows the way. While democracy allows the majority to rule, it does not allow the majority to rule without laws. Without laws, or laws based on the whims of the leaders it becomes dictatorship. Pakistan may be the only democracy where the Prime Minister and Chief Minister are on bail and were to be indicted the very day they were sworn in. Some may argue that in democracy the majority numbers can go in favour of anyone. This argument is too simplistic. It does not take into consideration the foundational principle of rule of law and its abuse by the majority of lawmakers coming with the sole intent of protecting not the public, but their own self interests. In this case, the majority of the cabinet chosen by the PM on bail is also on bail. If the majority is involved in crimes, they will protect the interest of criminals.

2. Subversion of institutions –In democracy, institutions are more important than individuals. Power is separated between the judiciary and executive. An independent media, judiciary and state institutions define the democratic structure. In dictatorship, state institutions are under the powers of government. Thus, if the government upon entry makes institutional changes directly related to its corruption cases in FIA, NAB etc, this is an anti-democratic action. NAB is being made a legal zombie. The amendments made in the NAB law is facilitating all illegal and criminal loopholes possible. Just one example; the new law excludes assets of the immediate family in any corruption probe. This means the politicians can easily buy assets of illegal money in the name of family members and nobody can catch them. The present cases on PMLN and PPP leaders and their families will simply become irrelevant.

3. Law of jungle –Law enforcers become law forcers. Police has become the armed political wing of rulers. No democratic society allows government to abuse public right to stand up and speak. What this government has done is expose the criminal mindset that wants to crush any public movement that dares to question their way of governance. Imagine an interior minister threatening to “fix” “jail” “thrash” anybody trying to reach the protest in Islamabad. Imagine tear gas that creates instant knock out being used on elderly women and children. Imagine heavy batons crushing windshields of family driven cars. Imagine a Chief Minister’s provincial cavalcade coming from other provinces being attacked and ex-ministers being beaten red and blue just on a whim. Unfortunately, this is not imagination, but the sad and sorry reality of today’s scared, totalitarian and nervous government.

All is not over. The quality of resistance in extreme oppression defines the life of the movement. What needs to be done to fight for the right is:

1. Legal advice and protection –Despite not having the best judicial system, it is the only way to stop “state organized crime”. The Supreme Court and the lower courts should be approached on each legal abuse and ambiguity. Clear court orders on the state action and reaction as well as the future of democratic movements judgement is mandatory. Otherwise, it will be classic example of the might of power crushing the public power.

2. A strategic integrated approach –Political movements are always multipronged. All political options should be kept in mind both by the government and the protesting party. The main agenda is the election timing and that can be a matter of negotiation. Maximalist approaches of saying immediately or in 2023 should be negotiated and arrive at a win-win situation for all. Issues of economy, political stability and geo strategic challenges need to be factored in. Stakeholders need to show flexibility and wisdom. Delay is just putting a very bad and bitter taste in the minds of the public that can result in an implosion that nobody would be able to control.

3. Let the public talk and walk –Make no mistakes, the public is enraged. Have no illusions that the public has no illusions. Masks on many stakeholders have slipped. Facades of many “experts” have cracked. The public is out and open. The gossip is loud and clear. The shackles of the “no-go” areas are broken. The first long march may seem to have been curbed, but it has broken down the barriers of fear and uncertainty. The public momentum to express, stand, speak, join, rebut, retaliate must be supported to continue this movement for democracy.

This is now not a movement for regime change alone, this is a movement for “real” democracy. The nation has made a great stride forward in taking charge of the attempt to suppress, oppress, depress, regress the country, constitutionally, legally, socio-culturally and politically. Democracy is the will of majority and the majority of Pakistan is no longer afraid of force and oppression of the state. They have finally realized what Abraham Lincoln said long ago, “The ballot is stronger than the bullet.”

The writer is a columnist, consultant, coach and an analyst