ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The nation will continue to suffer as long as non-representative elements exercise unlimited powers and interfere in the affairs of the country.
This was stated By Brig (retired) Saeed Khokhar, a former educationist in the Pakistan Army, during a lecture on "Democracy and the situation in Pakistan", organized by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Centre for Democratic Development, on Thursday.
Brig Khokhar said democracy was vital to tackle problems of the country. Policy and decision-making powers should be left to the representatives of the people. Democracy is "rule of the people" where their is equality of opportunities and freedom for the individuals to do as they choose, he said.
He said democracy did not mean counting heads or casting votes. Democracy is a highly developed system of governance. It means debate, respecting others' views as well as decency. But this decent word has been abused and degraded in Pakistan.
"If these features of human interaction are to be evolved, then authority cannot be imposed from above, but formed at the bottom. People are the best judges of their self interests and this judgment is made through its representatives."
Unfortunately, we have been living in an environment where since ages authority has been imposed from above and we are told that this is in the best national interest, he said.
He said in order to gain legitimacy every system of coercion was called democracy. Pakistan has moved from one crisis to another where there was lack of tolerance, lack of general participation and lack of legitimate governance.
"Repeated interventions by non-representatives to correct the situation has failed again and again. We may build an elaborate system and structure to preserve and protect vested interests, but it will fail to meet national aspirations as people would want a participatory system where they have a say," said Brig Khokhar.
