Elitist democracy will not be tolerated anymor.
By: Tarique Khan Javed
President, Overseas Pakistani Investors Forum.
___________________ Dated: 2 March 2009

Islam and elitist Democracy:
Sufi Mohammed has said that there is no room for democracy in Islam. While most of us will not agree with that and would consider a theological state even worse than the kind of democracy we have, yet his words must be taken seriously.
In Iran Khomeini said similar things and prevailed. Sufi has prevailed in Swat and if people of rest of Pakistan accept him as their leader a revolution would ensue.

The net results of Iranian Islamic Revolution spread over 1978-88 periods are quite positive for its common people. Land was distributed equally, even more than one house was nationalized as was 80% share of company and given to employee, all in the name of Allah. Iran has democracy which is subservient to Quranic Laws, which does not allow exploitation of poor and under which there is no ownership of individuals. They merely are custodian of wealth which must be distributed to the needy. The Iranian women are working in all fields including as Taxi drivers but with modest dress. There is no discrimination in their education. Islam has been adapted to needs of the present time.
 
The present democracy in Pakistan is for the elite only and does not represent the wishes of masses. Only rich get elected and why they should allow any law that will take away their privileges. The tax collection is one sided, only poor have to pay, inflation is being used to crush the common man and redistribution of land is on hold. This was so in previous regime of Gen Musharraf and is the same in the democratic government. Priorities have not changed as is expected after a transition to democracy. Anti people policies can continue as people do not matter in the current set up. Elected representatives do not feel any pressure of the people as they know they win their election not because people love them but rather because people fear them. Each Leader has his captive vote bank who obey his command and vote as directed. We may hope that as more and more elections are held things will change gradually. However in the case of Pakistan this may take a very long time given the submissive nature of people who easily submit to slightly stronger individual.
 
Swat leading the way:
For the first time the hold of such traditional leaders have been broken in one part of  Pakistan. Swat seems to be leading the nation in liberating the country from the hold of Land Lords, Sardars, Khans and Maliks. Grass root leadership there is abating distribution of land equally among the local people, as was done in Iran. The British designed unjust society is giving way to an egalitarian society. In which the aim of state will not be keep poor as they are but to lift them out of poverty and give them dignity.  In the recent fights the Ruling class of Swat was battered so badly that the so called peoples representative dare not visit their constituencies. These MNAs and MPAs all belonging to the super rich class in a very poor community had won their election by spending million of Rupees and succeeded in getting nominations from progressive parties like ANP and PPP. Their symbol of power- their palatial houses, expensive schools were blown up and no one was there to protect them.  They are all hiding in Islamabad. Swat has changed for ever. The old power structure will undergo a fundamental shift. The large tracks of land the so called “Khans” of the area are occupied by poor and they will not let it go easily. This will be one immediate implication of struggle for Islamic justice system in Swat. The worst of fear of the privileged in Swat has come to pass.

What is happening in Swat has a parallel in Iran where at the beginning of Revolution in 1978, the people of far flung northern Turkoman slopes expelled local land lords by force and captured their land. The trend gradually spread all over Iran and by 1988 all land in Iran were redistributed equally. The Central Government supported the move and recognised new ownership despite cries of this being un-Islamic. Now Iran is a modern (but not liberal), educated, peaceful state where women work in all fields in modest dress. One wonders if an Iranian type revolution is starting in Pakistan? Recently Kazi Hussain Ahmed head of Jamait e Islami called for an Iranian style revolution in Pakistan.

Modest leadership of Iran and Maldives:
Grass roots representatives prefer to continue to live in their modest houses and drive modest cars as is done by Iranian Leadership. Imam Khomeini continued to live in his mud house in Qum till his death. They cut down the number and cost of Ministries sharply and bring down expenditure. The benefit of lower expenditure can be passed to people in the form of lower indirect taxes. This also removes the reason for printing notes thus eliminating the root causes of inflation i.e: a general rise in prices of things (yet another form of indirect tax).

The newly elected President of Maldives, hailing from modest background, has announced that he will reduce expenses on Presidential office from USD 150 million to just 4 million and spend the saving on old age pensions, health and education.

ANP and PPP have failed the people:
While allotting MNA and MPA seats in Swat and else where ANP and PPP gave ticket to the super rich Khans,Maliks, Sardars, Wadaras and Businessman ignoring the poor party workers. Now such MNAs and MPAs can not go back to Swat and are hiding in MNA hostel in Islamabad.

PPP has moved away from the masses and has not done anything for the poor. It is firmly in the hands of Sardars and Wadaras starting from Sardar Zardari and down. It does not even talk about implementing 1977 Land Reform kept in abeyance by various regimes including two terms of PPP for last 31 years. The excuse is Islamic injunction against taking over private property. While the same Islam was able to distribute all land equally in Iran during 1978-88 period. Islam can be used with omissions and commissions for any purpose. In Pakistan it was used to maintain the unjust British designed land holding while in Iran the same religion was used to justify most far reaching redistribution of wealth after China in 1949. Even one of the two houses owned by one individual was nationalized and given to needy. Iran proved that for bringing justice in a country implementation of Karl Mark’s system of thinking is not necessary. Islam can do the same.

Pakistan army should keep on the sideline:
Pakistan army has realized the power of the people in Swat and now better know their limitations. Similar realization of their limitation was witnessed on 27th Dec 2007 when people burst out of their homes to protest killing of their democratic leader, who promised change. The old ruling class was attacked and humiliated and their paper tiger guards ran away. Zardari calmed them down or else the ruling rural and urban class could have been wiped out leading to a new Pakistan. Army for the first time got scared of the masses and decided to step down and is likely to remain out for some time keeping the lesson of 27th Dec in mind. If they interfere again people will show their power again to send them back to barracks. They should remain neutral in the class struggle that may ensue all over Pakistan. They were used in Swat and humiliated.  

USA should not take side also:
USA redistributed land in Japan after 2nd World War and created an egalitarian society in which middle class became the deciding factor in politics. The Liberal Democratic Party has ruled there after with consistent economic policies. Inflation and interest rate at zero is the hallmark of this policy. Export led growth mainly to USA is another factor of economic success of Japan. No wonder the people of Japan are the happiest and wealthiest in the World.

USA should support fundamental land reform in Rural areas and regularization of Kachi Abadies in Urban areas, progressive tax regime, balanced budget, zero rate of inflation, an efficient justice system and non elitist democracy as tools in fight against terrorism. Terrorism in Pakistan is fed by these injustices. List of injustices in Pakistan include the non inclusion of FATA and PATA in Pakistan and not extending the benefits the rest of Pakistanis enjoy. That needs to be fixed as well with the help of USA and other Western nations help.     

Conclusion and recommendation:
If the choice is between a liberal society full of injustice and conservative society with justice. Most people will opt for the later. This is what is happening in Swat. People of rest of Pakistan will also opt for this given a chance. Iran has proved that Islam does not come in the way of distribution of wealth and a modern but modest, democratic society can be established. Given the hopeless situation in the country when elite are bent upon even eating the flesh of the people without any sign of remorse. They enjoy their vast and sinful privileges as MNAs, MPAs, Senators, Ministers and Advisors financed by freshly printed notes which take poor man’s their bread by means of 30% inflation, without any guilt or shame. The inflation is on top of 80% tax poor pay in the country while 99% rich pay nothing.  No wander poor in the country are not happy and protesting. Thing can not remain the same with the advent of mass media. Things will change very fast now. The choice is now between surrendering the old privileges voluntarily or after lot of blood bath. Desperately poor people are ready to die for justice and the rich with their paid Paper Tiger Guards are no match for them, if Army remains neutral, as they should.     

To avert a bloody clash following measures are recommended:

1. Land Reform Act of 1977 be implemented immediately.
2. Central Bank should be made independent and asked to pursue policy that will not let inflation go beyond 3% while the aim should be 1%.
3. Tax burden should be shifted from Poor to rich so that rich pay 80% of tax and poor contribute 20%. This to be done by increasing Direct Taxes and reducing indirect taxes.
4. Parallel Islamic courts should be established all over country so that common man can get justice cheaply and quickly. All pending cases should be decided on a war footing.
5. A limit of Rs 3 lacs for a MPA and Rs 5 lacs for MNA’s election campaign should be fixed and must be monitored closely. This will allow common people to take part in election.
6. A ceiling on maximum number of Ministers should be fixed.  Whereby in the Centre not more than 10 Ministers should manage the affairs. In the provinces the number should not exceed 5.
7. The salaries and privileges of Ministers, Advisors, Senators, MNAs and MPAs should be reduced to half.
8. A grass root party should be formed which will promise to change things for better, on above lines.