Democracy in peril

The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) has once again held up a mirror to the state of democracy in Pakistan, and the reflection is quite disheartening. Its ‘Quality of Democracy in Pakistan 2024’ report lays bare the critical challenges that have kept our democratic experiment on life support. The past year, it states, was particularly devastating for democratic health, with systemic assaults on democratic institutions and principles. Managed elections, a muzzled judiciary and parliament, escalating incarceration of opposition leaders, and the rollback of citizens’ rights have created a centralised decision-making framework that benefits few while disenfranchising many. This hybrid model of governance, as Pildat aptly points out, is a far cry from genuine democracy. According to the report, the February 8 elections, touted as a step towards democratic revival, were fundamentally flawed. Far from reflecting the people’s will, these elections fractured the popular mandate and offered citizens a mere illusion of political choice. Meanwhile, parliament hastily amended laws to extend the tenures of military service chiefs, setting a troubling precedent that undermines civilian supremacy without the backdrop of martial law or national emergency. This consolidation of power is emblematic of a political system veering dangerously towards authoritarianism.

Pildat’s analysis also underscores an enduring and deeply troubling pattern in Pakistani politics. Political parties, rather than strengthening democratic principles, have historically aligned themselves with the establishment to gain power. This unholy alliance has perpetuated a vicious cycle of democratic regression, where each party, once in opposition, becomes the target of the same authoritarian tactics it once endorsed or ignored. While the report highlights economic stability and a tentative willingness for dialogue between the PTI and the government as silver linings, these pale in comparison to the systemic democratic erosion at play. This report reinforces what we have consistently argued: Pakistan’s political trajectory has been one of fleeting democratic gains, overshadowed by prolonged authoritarian interludes. Since independence, the country has oscillated between military dictatorships, civilian authoritarianism, and brief periods of democratic governance. The hybrid model we witness today is merely the latest iteration of this grim cycle, one that seeks to mask authoritarian control under the veneer of democratic processes.

The Charter of Democracy (CoD), signed by the PML-N and the PPP during their years in exile, was a rare moment of clarity and commitment to democratic norms. It emerged from the bitter lessons of the 1990s when both parties were used as pawns in the establishment’s game of political chess. For nearly a decade after the 2008 elections, this accord held, and democratic progress seemed possible. However, the emergence of the PTI and its willingness to serve as a vehicle for the establishment’s agenda marked the end of this fragile transition. The controversial elections of 2018 and 2024, which brought governments with dubious mandates, have deepened the democratic deficit. Imran Khan bears significant responsibility for the rollback of democracy. His refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue with political rivals has entrenched divisions and perpetuated the hybrid model. However, the other major parties are not wholly without blame. The PML-N and PPP, despite their democratic credentials, have often capitulated to the establishment’s demands, undermining the very principles they once championed. Their willingness to engage in dialogue with the PTI offers a glimmer of hope, but it must be more than a symbolic gesture.

The consequences of this hybrid model are stark. Freedoms have been curtailed, the judiciary’s independence has been compromised, digital rights are virtually non-existent, and human rights violations have reached alarming levels. The veneer of democracy cannot obscure the authoritarian reality that lies beneath. What is perhaps most alarming is the complicity of those who claim to oppose this model but are willing to benefit from it. This duplicity poses a new and insidious threat to democracy. The way forward requires a collective awakening. Political parties must abandon their myopic pursuit of power and reaffirm their commitment to democratic principles. The establishment must retreat from political engineering and allow democratic processes to flourish. Civil society and the media must remain vigilant and hold all stakeholders accountable. Most importantly, the proposed dialogue between the PTI and the government must prioritise the restoration and strengthening of democratic norms, rather than serving as a cosmetic exercise. Democracy is not a given; it is a process that requires constant nurturing and vigilance and here in Pakistan it hinges on the willingness of its leaders and institutions to break free from the cycles of the past and chart a new course.