Democracy in Pakistan
By: Tarique Khan Javed,
President, Overseas Pakistani Investors Forum.

Why democracy failed to hold grip in Pakistan has been a question in my mind, for a longtime. Now I have an answer.

Power of Economic forces

As a Banker we became aware of impending American/British invasion of Iraq by Oct 2002.

This was based on our ongoing interaction with high level officials of mostly American and British companies. They    lamented the lost business in Iraq since Gulf war in 1991, while French, Russian and Chinese Cos were doing business there. They felt it was the duty of their Governments to reopen the major market for them, one way or the other. They did not mind if that involved making a deal with Saddam Hussain.
America/Britain invaded Iraq in March 2003 against all conventional wisdom. The only explanation is that it was doing what some of its major companies wanted it to do.
These Cos were in a position to change election results due to their ability to make large election contributions.
This is the latest show of strength of Multi National Companies (MNCs), in history. However they have always moved the world and all major wars in recent times can be traced to them.

Entry of MNC in Indo Pak
British East India Co and Dutch East India Co were the first MNCs and have shaped the world as it is now. By establishing first trading post and then ruling them they changed the Indo Pak and Indonesia from closed economies to an open economy linked with world for ever.
By the time Britain had to leave Indo Pakistan, world had changed completely. When East India Co first came in 1750, India accounted for 33% of world GNP by the time they left in1947, India accounted for only 3% of the world GNP. Same thing happened in Indonesia by the time Dutch were forced to go. By then most economic activity had shifted to the West and the number of MNCs had multiplied.

Challenge of Congress
MNCs of the West feared loosing the entire lucrative Indian market as Gandhi and Congress believed trade with West was the root cause of all ills of India and thus resolved to throw them out, as much as they can, after independence. Non cooperation movements of 1920 and 30s were directed at MNCs more than Government. Shunning British products and relying on home grown products became fashionable and a matter of National pride of Indians.
By 1937, MNCs started to loose hope in efforts to change the mind set of congress. At the same time the Rulers of Princely States and Feudal Lords got a shock when congress declared that their class will be eliminated after independence. Both these Groups felt that their days in India were numbered and started to think of ways and means of avoiding this fate or at least salvaging some thing. They must have thought that if not all of India, they should work on plans to preserve their market/privileges in at least part of India.
 They found it difficult to divide India on any issue as the whole nation stood solidly behind Congress which promised to create a secular, egalitarian society.

Pakistan movement and MNCs
However their opportunity came, when due to short sighted policies of Congress leadership, Qauid e Azam decided to leave congress and work for Pakistan. With a brilliant leader who was working for preserving the interest of Muslims in India, MNCs and Land Lords saw first ray of hope and lend their full support to the creation of Pakistan- a country which was expected not to follow socialist and isolationlist policies of Independent India.   
It was not that Mr. Jinnah or Muslim League were working for these interest Groups. They came to a sad conclusion that they could not work with Congress partly due to their narrow mindedness, Hindu ideology, idealistic Socialist and isolationlist, bend of mind. It was mere coincidence that the self interest of Muslims coincided with that of MNCs and Landed class.
Knowing their power this must have made task of creating a separate country much easier.
British Government at the request of MNC and Landed class must have provided covert support while overtly expressing sorrow at the break up of India.
The ease with which Pakistan was created within a span of 7 years without any armed struggle or major political struggle attest to the fact that the major force of MNCs were behind it. British government did not put Muslim League leaders behind bar and probably helped them win elections with or without popular support, as it happens upto now. If the local authorities and influentials want a particular party to win they win. The recent local body election is a case in point in front of all of us, when the ruling parties have won in unimaginable places.Because of the assured vote bank of Land Lords, Muslim League did not bother to spread its membership among masses and thus democratic training of the nation was denied.Muslim League remained a party of the elite and mass representation in its inner circle was almost non existent while Congress was a grass root party.
 
Free and fair elections of 1971
The sad effect of all this was that free and fair elections have never been held in Pakistan except during General Yahya Khan's drunkard rule.
He let fair election happen in 1971 and the Country was ruined with dismemberment and a disastrous nationalization program in the remaining part of the Country.
For the first time popular will was allowed to be expressed and people of East Pakistan voted to be separated from Pakistan, while masses in the West demanded redistribution of wealth.
The establishment has learnt their lessons and since then no free and fair election has been held. The results are known before voting. The Election commission is not independent and   voters due to lack of self confidence and training in democracy vote as directed by local authorities.

Irrelevance of people of Pakistan

People will is irrelevant in Pakistan's major Foreign policy decisions. Most often they are opposite of what masses want. Economic policy also does not reflect their priorities.Although Bhutto did not dare to touch the investment of    MNCs they did not like what he did to local investors and thus PPP finds it difficult to come and stay in power, in spite of popular support.Due to lack of democratic traditions from the time of its birth, democracy is expected to remain closely managed even in coming years.
Pakistan was created with the strong support of MNCs and Landed Class. The British trained Army joined the Group to ensure that Pakistan remains an open economy where MNCs can operate without any restriction and the privileges of the traditional landed class is not taken away, while Army getting a fare share of the wealth being created.
These three forces can not let popular will be expressed, for when ever it will be, it is most likely to be for a major change and over-throw of status quo.
Recent Local bodies' elections have diminished the status of PPP and PML-N to minor parties, in the well managed election, although they still command lot of popular support.

Conclusion:

In the creation of Pakistan MNCs and Landed class played a major supporting role thus making the task of making a Country relatively easy without the usual extended grass route level struggle. The Leaders of Pakistan movement were not imprisoned or bitten up during demonstration implying covert support of the British Government.
The ease of creation has meant that people were not trained in democratic traditions and that made the task of Military take over a piece of cake.
 The establishment has managed to make a joke of democracy calling it an unsuitable system for Pakistan or asserting that Pakistanis/ Muslims do not understand or want western style democracy.
The three most popular leaders of the Country live in exile while the leader of a major Party is in jail on treason charges as he is alleged to have encouraged a section of the Army, to revolt in favour of establishing real democracy.
Prospects of establishing true democracy in Pakistan is indeed dim, without a tough and long democratic struggle, of the kind which nations wage for independence. This may involve an armed element as well.  
The other way out is a deal with MNCs,Army and Landed class in which the democratic forces assure that current privileges of these three forces will not be touched or reduced, in return of them letting democracy flourish.
 The fast expanding middle class of the country, is not likely to rest until it gets a fair share of the government therefore such a deal is necessary, to avoid a civil war.

Recommendation:
If all the political forces can come together and agree to a minimum common points of manifesto they are going to follow, a solution to the current impasse may be found.
In the post Soviet and Taliban era no one wants a further experiment in socialism or Islamization. Vast majority of Pakistanis just want a decent western style life in which they can provide a better standard of living for their families. 
Most Pakistanis want to migrate to the West as they like what people get in such counties. People pay huge sums to buy visas for these countries. There would be very few who would opt to go to a more socialist or Islamic state.
Reflecting these feelings all democratic parties including PPP has aligned their manifesto towards a capitalist, liberal and secular state. Even the Islamic parties do not advocate a Taliban type of society as they risk isolation.
With Islam as its solid moral foundation, Pakistan can afford to become a modern state to takes its rightful rank among community of nations.
Based on above I, think the minimum common program will ease the anxiety of the trio and Pakistan will move on to become a  truly democratic state with a much bigger economy, which will easily afford to accommodate the interests and privileges of these Groups without much pain.

The recommended minimum common  agenda may include the following:

1. Real democracy will be allowed by establishing an independent Election Commission, independent Judiciary, and return of Army to the barracks for good.
        
2. All political Parties will agree not to take any vindictive action against the Army.

3. All political parties will agree not to nationalize any industry be it local or foreign. This may become part of the constitution and no party with nationalization as part of its manifesto may be allowed to operate or run for election.

4. All political parties will agree not to further redistribute land beyond the 1977 reforms. However they may work for full enforcement of 1977 reform which is still pending.

5. Political  Parties with extreme Socialist, Islamist or Communal manifesto may be banned and not allowed to run for election in any disguise.