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To
what extent could the next government play a role in stabilizing democracy in
the country?
Views must be focused and to the point to avoid unnecessary editing and should not exceed 250 words. No views without the full name and address will be entertained.
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Your Opinion
The
future coalition government will not be able to work freely because of the
'dictating power of President Pervez Musharraf' and hidden powers like the US
interests in the region.
The
prevailing situation shows that a strong democratic government will only remain
a dream for people. We pray for the progress of our country and the nation. The
outcome of current elections has shown that people of Pakistan have rejected the
elements working against the integrity and sovereignty of the country. We hope
that the major parties will work for the best interests of the country.
Zarqa
Mufti
Lahore
In my opinion, Pakistan is capable to achieve political stability, democracy and
economic strength provided the institutions perform properly within their scope
of activity.
To make the institutional working strong in Pakistan, we must decide on national
level to respect law and constitution. The leaders of Pakistan from all sides
have betrayed the nation by destroying the institutions. You can
start from Ghulam Mohammad and go on endlessly. Tell me the name of one ruler in
Pakistan who submitted himself to the rule of law and constitution.
The only way to get rid of this problem is to start from judiciary. If the
nation gets independent, morally and professionally strong judiciary, they will
set right everything. The corrupt leader, the corrupt bureaucrat
and the law breaking Wadera or looters will all be brought to book. But if the
judiciary is not put in place, people will continue exploiting. Who will dare to
do that is the question?
I am not a fan of MMA who won a majority in NWFP, but if they enforce rule of
law in NWFP, you will see what difference it makes. The only challenge before
our nation is to enforce the rule of law. I doubt that our
leadership can afford to make the judiciary independent.
Syed Safdar Rizvi
Toronto
The
next coalition government can play a pivotal role for the stability of democracy
in the country. People expect that they will learn from the mistakes of the
past. I hope the people’s representatives will not compromise on the
sovereignty of the country.
H MIR
Houston
Our
leaders have lost chance to restore the confidence of the people in democracy.
Though recent general elections have a split mandate, yet it represents the
voice of all segments of the country. It now depend on our leaders to make the
best use of this opportunity and prove that despite the difference of
ideologies, Pakistan as a nation stand united. Our leaders can take our nation
towards progress by keeping their differences aside. If they could not avail
this opportunity, people would not come out to cast their votes in the future.
Nusratullah
Khan
Karachi
The
democracy cannot be stabilized in the country unless the military generals stop
intervention in politics. The generals will not stop their intervention unless
politicians get united.
Fayyaz
Awan
Toronto
Political
parties can significantly contribute to the stability of democracy in Pakistan,
provided they understand and recognize the need.
To achieve this goal, firstly, all parties should re-organise themselves and
hold free and fare elections in their party within next 18 months. Pakistani
people must recognise that no body is indispensable in any party. How old or
experienced he/she may be. It is time to strength party infrastructure on
sound footings once and forever. Let us liberate the parties from big fishes and
brought forward new capable leadership which is the well aware of the 21st
century challenges and have vision to meet the developing scenarios globally.
Secondly, spell out priorities, target local issues and resolve them on merit
and without any discrimination. This would help stabilize democracy.
M
Syed
Toronto
Responsibility to
strengthen democracy in the country now lie in the hands of the newly elected
representatives of the assemblies, as it will be their actions which will lead
the country towards what is called a real democracy or a martial law. Our
representatives have now to choose one thing between the two. If they want
democracy to flourish then all of them must work in the interest of the
country, otherwise they will have to face the dire consequences.
General Musharraf was
quite lenient in holding general elections at the end of his three years
rule. Unlike his predecessors, when he took the reigns of the country in a
bloodless coup he did not impose martial law on October 12, 1999 in the country.
Although General Musharraf could ruled the country for 11 years similar to
Zia-ul-Haq, he provided another chance to the elected representative to
strengthen the democracy in the country by holding general elections on October
10, 2002.
It is high time all
efforts and approach of the elected representatives and their party leaders
tried thier hard to bring a positive change. They are elected by the people to
serve the people and not to rule the people. Transfer of power from the
military government to the elected representatives should not be abused. All
political parties should resolve their personal grievances in the best interest
of the country, as their cooperation will strengthen Pakistan.
Political parties should take Pakistan's Army action in a positive manner. In fact Pakistan's Army had played a tremendous role in maintaining harmony in the country at such a crucial time when the services of our the Army Jawans were required on the borders. Our politicians should join hands with the Army in order to strengthen the country politically and economically.
SYED
A. MATEEN
Karachi
In view of the constitutional amendments made
by General Pervez Musharraf, I am not sure whether true the democracy will be
established or not. viewing prevailing political scenario, it appears General
wants to preserve only his power.
The results of fresh elections clearly show that the country needs a complete revolution as no government have so far succeeded to take the nation out of the abyss of darkness and ignorance. This cognizance can only be brought into the minds of people by increasing the literacy rate in this country. People ought to elect those representatives who have the desire to serve the nation and lead it in a better way. Unfortunately, all the governments of Pakistan since it came into existence have never strived to increase the literacy rate because of the fact that with the realisation in the mind of a common men, they will be unable to hoodwink them by their fallacious claims based upon prevarication.
I
believe no government has ever strived to bring stability to
democracy. Instead, they have been rather busy in plundering the national
wealth. With such a sepulchral experience of the past, it is very difficult to
expect that the next coalition government will successfully play its part.
I just
don't see any sort of change approaching in the near future. It is Allah
Almighty who knows what will happen. The only thing we should do is to pray for
a prosperous Pakistan and unity of the Muslim Ummah.
Hamza Sohail
Lahore
Next coalition government would unfortunately contribute very little for the stability of democracy in the country. The reason of this unfortunate is that no party has absolute majority and would entirely depend on the support of junior partners in the government. The party which emerges as leading the show would always be at risk of breakdown and in return try to gain sympathies of the masses. This would probably happen to save their skins and strengthening their position.
Any
party whether it is PML-Q, PPPP or MMA would follow its own agenda which is
obvious to everybody in the country. The result would, Allah forbid, be the
collapse of the existing set up in a years time. This would give yet another
chance to the General with the sword in his hand. This would again drag us back
and would definitely be another saddest moment for the democracy of this
country.
May
Allah save our country and grant guidance to our leaders so that they could do
something for the poor masses of Pakistan.
NM
Abbasi
Lusaka
I voted for a change that does not seem
possible in the near future. All I can say is: May Allah give our
newly elected leaders the wisdom to think and work for Pakistan.
Mohammed Yakoob
It is sickening to see politicians from opposing schools of thought. They should
all form one group and call themselves "GHA" or "Grand Hypocrites
Alliance".
General Musharraf should send them all for a picnic on a boat and sinking
shouldn’t be a problem for them.
Noshi Asif
Wah Cantt
The
people of Pakistan are not able to restore democracy because they have elected
wrong people over the last two decades. They could not elect a better leadership
for the nation because of illiteracy. The political parties have no any agenda
to strengthen the economy of the country as they always remain thirsty for
power. I suggest the presidential system like one in the USA be imposed in the
country.
Salman Ali
New
York
It is disheartening to see
many people of Pakistan dissatisfied with their electoral system wherein their
votes remain meaningless. Some of the people prefer the military government over
the elected one, describing the previous elected representatives as incompetent.
It seems that they have completely forget that the actual job of the
military is not to run all the institutions of the country.
Our leaders may be corrupt and incompetent, but do we have any other option?.
aAbsolutely not. Strong democratic institutions cannot be established overnight.
There are no shortcuts. We must not think that nation building is an easy task,
but fact is that it is a long and arduous process. As a nation, we should make
hectic efforts to make Pakistan a strong and prosperous state.
Shuaib
California
Our
Politicians are not interested in any kind
of democracy but they are actually interested in only corruption and power. These feudal lords are only
interested in extending their rule and monarchy over their poor public.
Atif Muhammed
Virginia, USA
I respect all the opinions.
There is no doubt that Pakistan has been looted for over half a century. But,
instead of being hopeless, we, individually and collectively, need to play our
role for the future of this country. Only through participation in elections and
supporting best candidates can change the fate of our country.
A. Ghafoor
UK