It was a near miss. The ruling party, with its supposedly false mandate, was on the verge of destroying the constitution, crushing the independence of the judiciary, the last hope for democracy. Who ordered this crazy act in the middle of the night on a weekend? we know the answer.
The guardian angels of authoritarian states see themselves not only as protectors, but also as owners of our future. Like overzealous shepherds, they have lost sight of their flock, convinced that only their guardianship can guarantee the survival of the country.
The question is, are the admins ipsos custodes? Who will protect the custodians? Perhaps this is a rhetorical question, but these controllers (read establishment) tend to monopolize the very means by which surveillance takes place.
The time has come to decide what kind of governance structure should govern Pakistan. Should it be the constitutional order envisioned by the Founding Fathers, where all citizens are equal before the law, due process is observed, and all institutions act within legal limits? Or should Pakistan’s mission continue as one of an eternal security state with militarized justice, legislation, foreign policy, and even the economy?
Pakistanis want an agreement based on a governing charter that reflects the new national agenda and national sentiments.
We, the powerless people, must choose between conquest and oppression to correct course, or choose to speak truth to power. As a former law enforcement officer, I oppose the use of violence. Not just for moral reasons, but because it is an ineffective means of combating “authoritarian” regimes. To resort to violent means is to choose the very type of struggle in which the oppressor almost always has the upper hand. American scholar Gene Sharp argued in From Dictatorship to Democracy that democratic activists who use force against dictatorial regimes usually lose. They have less firepower and resources than nations. He stressed that social justice and political movements should identify tyrants’ “Achilles heels” – areas of weakness.
In the current scenario of Pakistan, the major weakness of the government is the lack of legitimacy. An overwhelming majority of voters voted in the February 8 national election, but it was overturned by a brutal minority. States can inherently legitimize their power by ensuring the sanctity of electoral processes and the rule of law. The current rulers have not passed the legitimacy test. The people of Pakistan want a fair deal based on a governing charter that reflects the new national agenda and national sentiment.
Representative Democracy: True representation can only emerge through fair and free elections. Civil society rejected the false results of the February 8 poll. We need a new independent electoral commission. The idea of installing a caretaker government before the vote proved to be a failure. The three heads of the state, namely the Attorney General, Chief Secretary and IGP, can ensure fair polls with the independent ECP. If there is a will to achieve representative democracy, it is possible. There is one condition: the establishment and deep state should not be involved in politics.
Decentralized federalism: Centralized control by Rawalpindi and Islamabad must be replaced with true local autonomy and strong regional autonomy. We must seek unity in diversity. Cultural and linguistic diversity is our strength. Decision-making should take a bottom-up approach rather than a top-down strategy.
National Security: The national purpose envisioned by the Founding Fathers was a democratic and enlightened government based on social justice. Unfortunately, our country has become a security state that is at odds with society’s democratic aspirations. Unless we humanize nations, national security discourse will continue to dominate at the expense of human security and development.
Intelligence Agencies: Our primary federal intelligence agencies operate without any legal framework. The culture of impunity developed by the deep state needs to be addressed through parliamentary oversight and legislation that clearly defines the role of government agencies in internal and external security aspects. The issue of missing persons can be resolved through constitutional and legal means. Laws addressing enforced disappearances must be promulgated immediately to meet international obligations and satisfy domestic civil society organizations.
Terrorism and Violent Extremism: The National Plan of Action Against Terrorism, reviewed and updated by Nacta in 2021, must be implemented by federal and state actors. We need strong border controls. The TTP’s growing belligerence against state institutions should be countered with all its might. Prohibited extremist organizations such as the BLA, BRA and BLF should be dealt with decisively. Effective action must be taken against sectarian and extremist groups in the country. States must renounce any support for extremist organizations and non-state actors. National harmony can only be achieved through tolerance. The role of the state in religion is that of enabler or facilitator, not executor. An inclusive and humane state can win the trust of a population wary of elite capture.
Balochistan and KP: It is time to heal the wounds of Baloch and Pakhtun, a strategically important border region. We need constructive engagement with dissidents, activists and disaffected youth. Sociopolitical and economic empowerment is needed in Balochistan and erstwhile Fata.
Independent Judiciary: The role of the judiciary in upholding the rule of law and the fair administration of justice is critical in a democracy. Authoritarian executives always want the judiciary to become a docile instrument of repression. An independent judiciary would surely thwart such plans. The current internal tensions in the Supreme Court are not good for democracy.
Corruption and organized crime: The link between corruption and crime must be broken. NAB should be disbanded as it is an instrument of political engineering. A new independent commission against corruption could be established, or the FIA could become operationally and administratively autonomous to investigate corruption and economic crimes. In order to investigate organized crime and enforce the law fairly, the police force as an institution needs to be overhauled.
The above is a minimal agenda for change. “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their hearts cannot change anything,” said George Bernard Shaw. The power of the powerless should no longer be tested.
The author is a former IG police officer.
Published at Dawn on September 27, 2024
