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Presidentialorparliamentarydemocracy?|PakistanToday

Presidential or parliamentary democracy?

Columns

AUGUST8,2013BYZOYAASHRAF

WhatcanbetheidealsystemforPakistan?
In order to avoid anarchy and chaos, a nation needs a constitutional framework to adhere to, so that its masses can live under a set of rules to follow, a
governmentsystemtoruleoverthem,ruleoflawtobepracticed,goodgovernancetobeensuredandcheckedandbalancesandaccountabilitytobeobserved.
However,itallrequiresaspecificmodelofgovernmentthatisswift,dynamicandcompetitiveinnature.
According to me a propresidential democratic government along with local bodies should be practiced. As there are several issues in parliamentary form of
governmentinthecontextofPakistanincludingthecastesystem,feudalism,weakpoliticalparties,threatofnoconfidenceagainsttheprimeminister,horse
trading(alsopossibleinaPresidentialsystembutagiftofaparliamentarysystem)andlesseraccountability.Thisiscoupledwiththeshambolichistoryofthe
implementationofaparliamentarysysteminPakistan.
Ever since the first constitution was passed in 1956, two more constitutions have been added to the journals of history. Presently, we are in theoretical
perspectivefollowingtheConstitutionof1973with20amendments.But,therewasashiftintheconstitutionswhenGeneralAyubKhanabrogatedthefirstever
constitutions of Pakistan in 1956 that voiced for Parliamentary system. Ayub after abrogating the constitution brought another constitution in 1962 that was
somewhatentirelyoppositetotheparliamentaryformofgovernment,wherePresidentcanhavetheultimatepowerandauthorityovereverything.ThoughAyub
didthatforpersonalinterestashewantedtovalidatehisruleandwantedtoavoidanykindofrebellionagainsthim.Thatswhyheintroducedanapoliticalsystem
whereeverythingwillbedonewithoutanypoliticalparty,localbodieswerestrengthened.ForthatpurposeEBDOandPRODOwerepresentedtokeepalltypes
ofpoliticalactivitiesoutofthegovernmentalmatters.
On the other hand a Parliamentary form of government that is the major element of 1973 constitution that makes Prime Minister the most power person and
Presidentastheleastpowerfulperson.MoreoverpeoplecannotelecttheirPMdirectly,whoiselectedbythemembersoftheparliamentaftergeneralelections.
TheWestminsterParliamentarysystemwhichisbestforGreatBritainbecauseitsdeveloped,itdoesntmeanthattheformofgovernmentwhichisbestforone
countrywillsuitableforothercountry.Evenintheentrencheddemocracy,thewayMargaretThatcherwaschangedmidwayofhertenurebytherulingpartyisa
caseinpoint.InPakistan,atleastsevenprimeministerstookoathandnoneofthemcompletedthetenure.Similarlyfrom1988to1999,thePPPandMuslim
Leagueweretwicereturnedtopower,butnonecouldcompletethetenureduetotheirintolerancetowardseachother,andweresentpackingunder582(B)
thoughitsbeenomittedafter18thamendmentbutnothingfruitfulcameout.
Moreover, a constant rift between PM and President has been observed if they are from different political parties. Though it talks about the pure democratic
outlooksbutlacksthearomaofrealdemocracyinit.Parliamentarysystemalsobenefitsthepoliticalpartiesandthefamiliesbeingpartofpoliticalparties,giving
theultimatepowerinthehandsofbureaucratstodecideeverythingforthemasses.Eventually,leadingtowardsashakygovernmentsystemifoneconsidersthe
situationofPakistanonly.
IfoneconsiderAyubsintentionbehindpresidentialsystemforPakistan,thenitwassurelynotatallsuitableforPakistan.Asheintroducedthissystemtobenefit
himselfsothatnopoliticalpartyorpoliticalactivistcanplotagainsthim.But,keepingAyubsintentionaside,ifonepaysadeeperinsightontheelementsof
PresidentialformofgovernmentspecificallyforPakistan,thenitsmorethansuitable.Thisperceptionmightnotbeacceptablebyatheparliamentarydemocratic
schoolofthought,becausetheywouldhavetheopinionthatgivingpowerinonehandmightbeequivalenttodictatorshipandauthoritarianismbutthisfactshould
alsobekeptinmindsthatpersonwhowillhavetheultimatepowershallbedirectlyelectedbythemassesatlarge,howeveronrealisticgrounds,Pakistanneeds
asolesingleauthoritythatcanunitethisscatteredandtroublesomenation.AndtoattainthatapresidentialsystemisbestsuitedforPakistanasitprevents
horsetrading,plutocracy,corruption(tosomeextent),makeinstitutionsaccountableandenhancesthesystemoftransparencyandchecksandbalancesthat
parliamentarysystemdoesnotensure.
Inaddition,PresidentialdemocracyisprevalentinUnitedStatesofAmericaaswellthatclaimsitselfthemostsuccessfuldemocracyintheworld.Thesystemof
localgovernmentinPakistancanbeexpandedintheshapeofincreasingthenumberofprovinces,eachheadedbyagovernorandalocallyelectedparliament.
Thiswaybothresponsibilityandprosperitywillbetransferredtolocalvoters,thatultimatelywillgivebirthtobottomupapproachinpolicymakingwherepeople
will voice for their own rights, their needs, they will have their own representative within themselves who are more deep rooted than our parliamentarians.
Moreover, a presidential system in case of Pakistan will also lead towards more smooth function of power as there will be no other authority to consult and
exerciseitspower,confusionsandambiguitieswillnottakeplace,asifonelooksdeepintothetenureofAyub,hewastheonlyonetotakemajordecisionsfor
thecountry,andmostofthereformagendashepresentedwerefairenoughaslongasthewelfareandprogressionofastateisconcerned(keepinghisother
intentionsaside).Secondly,apersononceelectedbyaclearmajority,thelegitimacyofthepresidentbothmoralandconstitutionalisnotindisputeandunless
impeached he completes the tenure. Protagonists of this system believe that it serves as a bulwark against perpetual political upheavals, allows stable
functioningofgovernmentandapeacefulchangeofpoliticalpower.So,accordingtomeparliamentarysystem,thoughitsprogressivelyworkinginmanyofthe
countriesbutincaseofPakistanitdidnotturnupasfruitfulasexpected.
At the end of the day, it is not about which system is better but which system is better for our country. The objective of adopting any system is to create a
governmentthatisabletoprotectitsinterestsandstrengthsoutwardswhilemaintainingarobustinternalpoliticalsystemthatcreatesandbreedsleadershipand
focusesonthefuture.
AccordingtomeParliamentarydemocracywithitsmultiplecentersofpowerisnotsuitedtoPakistanandtheofficesoftheprimeministerandtheprovincialchief
ministerscanbeabolishedinfavorofastrongpresidentialdemocracy.Thiswillstrengthenaccountability,reducetensions,andensuresmoothpolicyexecution.
Wherethecountrystandstoday,andregardlessoftheidealismofWestminsterdemocracy,puttingPakistanontherighttrackisnotpossibleforthepoliticians
alone.Norcanthemilitarypullitoffbyitself.Asuccessful,stableandprosperousPakistandependsonacivilizedandreformedpoliticalsystemwithdefined
rulesofthegame,backedbyastrongmilitarycommitmentinthebackgroundandasensiblepropresidentialformofgovernmentwiththeamalgamationofLocal
bodiesandDevolutionPlanisrequiredthatcanunitethenationunderonenationalistumbrella.

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Anotherparliamentarysystemcanbetestedafterelections2013asitwasthefirsttimethatanygovernmenthascompletedits5yearstermthoughcoalition
workedbutyetagainpersonalgainsandinterestsshouldbekeptasideandanewsystemshouldbewelcomedforachangethatmightworkforthedevelopment
ofPakistan.

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