Our 60 years of history, time and again, is witness to the fact that
we do not have leaders with sincerity of purpose and long term vision.
We have seen constantly, a game of musical chairs between the so
called democratic parties and the Army. It's an army takeover from ill
intentioned rulers,people are escatic,and after a few years we are
talking of democracy again.
Yet another round of "democrato-phobia" and we want to go back to army
rule again!
In this entire process, it is Pakistan who has lost. We have failed to
develop and strengthen our political institutions. The result is,we do
not,on the face of it, have a fresh crop of dedicated politicians to
come to the political forefront!
So what is the solution?Continuation of this musical chairs?What are
our options?Nawaz Sharif, a creation of Zia, Benazir Sahiba, her own
father was the creation of Yahya. These faces have remain unchanged
over years and years. But where is the educated lot? The younger lot?
Our upcoming generation?
They are home, getting frusterated by the circumstances, both of the
country and personal. Or, they are abroad, working where they get
their hard work's worth. Who is the loser?
Ofcourse, Pakistan.
What needs to be done to correct this sorry state of affairs is to
implement the Political Parties Act.
We need to ensure that there are IN HOUSE PARTY ELECTIONS every 3
years. Why do we need Life Chairpersons? I am sure all parties have
their share of good, sincere people.Let them come forward.
We need to ensure that no one contests for the in house party seat
more than twice. Likewise, no one should be allowed to contest for
National and Provincial assemblies more than twice.
ONLY with in house and accross the board accountability can we have a
clean ship in due course of time.
Prime Ministership should be allowed only once.
Let the country fo forward. We are still stuck with "Dynastic set ups"
within parties echlons. How can we even talk of democracy when we fail
to practise it within our own ranks?
Yasmeen Ali
Lawyer
yasmeen.a.ali9@gmail.com