While announcing party’s manifesto for the forthcoming general elections, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has said the PPP’s manifesto is based on ‘five Es’ -- Employment, Education, Energy, Environment and Equality. She said the PPP’s slogan for the election was ‘Ilm, Roshni, Sab Ko Kam--Roti, Kapra Aur Makan, Maang Raha Hai Har Insaan’. Mrs Zardari said that if the party was voted into office, it would put in place a Public Works Programme to guarantee employment and launch a ‘Literacy and Health Corps Scheme’ to address unemployment among the educated youth. In line with its ‘Roti, Kapra aur Makan’ slogan, she said her party would deliver food, housing and basic incomes through specific policy initiatives. For the provision of housing to lower and middle class families, Benazir told the PPP had developed a comprehensive programme for sustainable long-term housing credits.
It is appreciable that PPP has announced its programmes and policies for the well being of poor and low and middle-income groups before going for elections. One has not yet seen the copy of the manifesto announced by Ms Bhutto, but apparently, the manifesto seemed more focused on socio-economic problems faced by common man and woman in daily life. The revival of the slogan of “Roti, Kapra aur Makan -- Maang Raha Hai Har Insaan” would certainly appeal to the voters whose sufferings have been neglected by the rulers so far, and might benefit PPP in the elections.
However, there are other basic issues, and equally important, which are the main cause of all ills, including socio-economic problems of the people, which have not been addressed adequately since the inception of Pakistan. The question of democracy, of the participation of the people in running affairs of the state, of the cultural, economic and political rights of the people from all regions, sub-regions and socio-ethnic groups, of the financial independence of federating units, of fundamental right to control natural resources by the people of area, region or province is yet to be answered. Drastic constitutional reforms are needed to ensure the participation of people from all regions and groups, and to guarantee the protection of their fundamental rights.
Besides, national consensus and reconciliation is certainly something different from what has been encompassed in National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). The consensus is needed among the people of all regions and sub-regions, among of all linguistic and cultural groups and among the federating units, and not only among political celebrities vying for power, though legitimately. In the prevailing crisis-ridden state, the manifestoes need something more.
In order to retain member states into a union as envisaged in Pakistan Resolution 1940, Pakistan must become a truly federal state with empowering senate with equal representation from all states and over riding powers over the National Assembly. All appointments to federal courts, Supreme Court, Election Commission, members and chairman of Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), Ambassadors, heads of autonomous bodies including cultural and literary bodies, and chiefs of army, navy and air force staffs, shall be made after the scrutiny and approval of the senate. The provincial governors shall be directly elected by the people. The elected governors must have veto power over every decision of the provincial assembly unless overturn by 2/3rd majority of the House.
Pakistan's defence budget is not transparently made and spent. Likewise, Pakistan's defense policy and foreign policy are formulated by the GHQ and implemented by intelligence agencies. They do not at all represent aspirations of the people of federating units. Therefore, these shall be put for discussion in all four provincial assemblies, and decisions shall be made in the light of the resolutions by the provincial assemblies and the joint session of parliament.
A Federal Constitutional Court should be set up to resolve constitutional issues, giving equal representation to each of the federating units, whose members may be judges or persons qualified to be judges of the Supreme Court. The supreme and high courts should hear only regular civil and criminal cases. The appointment of judges should be made in the same manner as for judges of the higher judiciary.
The formation of a national commission should be part of the manifesto to look into demands of the people of different regions, including Fata and Northern Areas, Hazara, Pothohar and Seraiki regions vying for their separate linguistic, cultural and political identities.
Also, the formation of a ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’ should be promised in the manifesto to acknowledge victims of torture, imprisonment, disappearance, state-sponsored persecution, targeted legislation, and politically motivated accountability. The commission should examine and report its findings on military coups and arbitrarily removals of civil governments in the country, so far. A national democracy commission should be established to promote and develop a democratic culture in the country and provide assistance to political parties for capacity building on the basis of their seats in the parliament in a transparent manner.
To strengthen democracy political wings of all intelligence agencies should be disbanded. This should be included in the manifesto as pledged in the Charter of Democracy.
Consensus building is an essential part of nation building. Yet, one of the many baneful contributions of military dictatorship has been the politics of divide, confrontation and negativism. The people of Pakistan believe that in a multi-party democracy, constructive dialogue, consultation and cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties is, not only desirable, but also essential. It has become all the more necessary since several crises confronting Pakistan today cannot be effectively resolved without evolving a broad platform of national consensus.
Some of the issues where such a national consensus is most urgently called for are; sectarian and religious extremism; constitutional and electoral reforms; centre-province relations; population policy; empowerment of women, inter-provincial water disputes; environmental protection; and effective institutional guarantees for the welfare of the weaker sections of society including minorities, poverty alleviation and provision of opportunities of livelihood to rural and urban poor.
In this regard, specifically “Political untouchability" vis-à-vis any political party must not be practiced. In all issues of national importance where a national consensus is needed, the ruling party should adopt a policy of dialogue and consultation with other political parties. The views, suggestions and, wherever feasible, participation of citizens and other organisations, outside the sphere of politics, should be actively sought.
An equally important dimension of democracy and nation building is the need to build a responsible citizenry. Democracy is not only about rights, but also about responsibilities and duties. However, since the rulers themselves threw their responsibilities to the winds and have turned statecraft into crass commerce and politics into an unscrupulous power game, the average Pakistani naturally became cynical about politics. His awareness about his responsibilities as a citizen weakened and, to that extent, his conscious contribution to nation building has also diminished.
It must be pledged that there will be a qualitative change in the culture of governance. There will be a marked change in the mindset and behavior of those in government. Their duties and responsibilities will take precedence over their perquisites. Though such a change in the culture and content of governance is the first pre-requisite for building a ‘New Pakistan’, it alone is not enough. A change in the mindset and behavior of citizens, in their daily lives is also equally necessary for building a strong, prosperous and proud nation.
