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There Are Only Two Model
Democracies: UK and US
General Musharraf has repeatedly said that
there are many forms of democracies and each country has picked the form of
democracy suitable to its social conditions. Musharrafites also use the same
rhetoric when they want to criticize democracy, democratic forces and
democratic institutions.
The fact of the matter is there are only
two model democracies in the world and they are: England and United States
of America. Both English and American models of democracies have worked
uninterrupted for long enough to gain complete hold in those societies and
the people of both countries are reaping the fruits of established
democratic systems. English model works through parliamentary form of
government whereas American model works through Presidential form of
government. Both systems insure the people’s total control over the state
affairs and decision making process.
Rest of the democracies have followed these
two models. For example, India chose to follow British model right after
partition. Indians have very successfully replicated the British model and
Indians enjoy democratic rights as their British and American counterparts.
The people of Pakistan need to have access
to follow one of the two models. They chose British model as form of
democracy to run their state affairs. Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the
founder and sole spokes person of Pakistanis, several times spoke about his
preference of British model. The people of Pakistan unanimously chose
British model of democracy in 1973 constitution. Unfortunately, in Pakistan
outlaw generals, one after other, sabotaged democratic process.
The best thing about both democratic models
is the people living under these models never lose hope. Britons, Americans
and Indians are always hopeful. The reason is: they know if nothing else
works they can change their governments through elections.
Today, the people of Pakistan have lost
hope. They have seen two prime ministers come and go and the third one has
sworn in, but they see no light at the end of the tunnel. They know these
changes are insignificant.
Mullahs are also a serious hurdle in the
establishment of democracy in Pakistan. They present Islam as an
alternative, but practically there is no Islamic model. What Mullahs are
doing in the name of Islam in NWFP is nothing but ignorance and crude way of
handling government affairs.
The fact of the matter is the system
general Musharraf has erected in the name of democracy has nothing to do
with democracy, because in any model of democracy there is no room for a
serving Commander In Chief of the armed forces to sit at the helm of affairs
and call all the shots.
Instead of issuing confusing statements
about democracy, what Pakistan needs is unfettered democracy. Without
unfettered democracy, the people of Pakistan may continue feeling alienated,
dismayed and hopeless
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