Pildat report shines light on ‘quality’ of democracy in Pakistan in 2024

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) has outlined critical challenges to democratic health of Pakistan in 2024.

In a report, Pildat observed as democracy around the world faced crises, Pakistan’s democracy also remained under significant strain, and is facing persistent systemic issues.

The Pildat’s report “Quality of Democracy in Pakistan 2024” said in Pakistan democracy has seldom got a breather in the past decade and year 2024 has been no exception. “Except that if at all it was possible, democracy has been pummelled further”.

By an all too familiar scenario, another alliance of politicians with the establishment came about, either under extraordinary pressure to address most serious economic crisis of its history or because of the politicians’ eagerness for crumbs of power, the report stated.

“This was achieved through a constitutional, legal and administrative onslaught by holding of a managed election, curbing powers of judiciary, muzzling of parliament, continuing increase in incarceration of opposition and thwarting and rolling back rights of citizens — all to further centralise decision-making”, the report observed.

The Pildat’s report highlighted following key issues which impacted democracy in Pakistan in 2024.

It noted 12th general election held in February 2024 was a largely flawed exercise served to fracture popular mandate and to provide citizens only with a modicum of political and electoral choice. “Apparently, to safeguard its razor-thin majority in parliament, federal government embarked on a mission to restructure higher judiciary”.

The 26th Amendment to Constitution effectively changed appointment process for leadership in higher judiciary and bifurcated judiciary in two branches dealing with constitutional and other matters. Due to the resistance offered by JUIP, sharp edge of proposed amendment was blunted to some extent, the report stated.

As per report, the parliament also hurriedly passed amendments to the acts governing three defence services to extend service tenures of respective services chiefs from existing three to five years. “This is the first time in history of country such a term increase has been legally introduced without a Martial Law in place and during peace time”, the report observed.

Pakistan’s leading political parties have continued to display a sad and familiar proclivity to assist the establishment against a political opponent in return for short-term selfish political gains, the report viewed.

“Such a regular political pattern has found parties reaping politico-electoral benefits at a steep cost of weakening of democracy and democratic governance in Pakistan. The current political set-up emerged through 12th general electons is no different”. The current set-up has stepped up efforts to manage use of internet and social media platforms by blocking certain applications and controlling flow of communication through others, the report said.

“With growing centralisation of decision-making significantly influenced by the establishment, a key conundrum facing citizens is how to communicate their valid concerns against this role without compromising sanctity and status of military, which should be a red line for each citizen”, the report stated.

However, despite continuing sane advice to withdraw from politics — not just to focus on their primary task of defence and security but also to safeguard their unifying public image from tarnishing — there is no public testimony of acceptance of this advice and roll-back from political role and this remains an urgent clarion call for Pakistan, the report noted.

Against this bleak horizon, improving economic stability and stated willingness and initiation for political dialogue between PTI and government offer the only silver lining, the report observed.

Despite grandstanding by the government and its backers and tough bargaining and threats of civil disobedience by the PTI, “it is our belief a comprehensive dialogue must be sustained to find politically-negotiated solutions for the country’s dire-needed political and economic stability”, the report advised.

The report said freedom of news media has only worsened in Pakistan in 2024 with many leading media persons arrested and abducted over one pretext or the other. An unofficial ban has been in place on certain areas of coverage in legacy media, including images, interviews and messages of now incarcerated former PM as well as a number of other issues unofficially declared as “sensitive” from time to time, it added.

Going beyond the control and censorship of traditional news media, administration moved to create hurdles on the use of internet and related social media applications, it said.

“The platform of X (formerly Twitter) was blocked in Pakistan on February 17, and government admitted officially of doing so much later. In September 2024, Federal Information Minister said social media platform X was banned due to national security issues, not to curb freedom of expression”, the report stated.

Stressing importance of addressing these systemic issues, the report called for a renewed commitment to democratic principles by the institutions and stakeholders.