Imagine a political party that, rather than pushing ‘policies’ in a haphazard, ill-informed and patronising manner, was instead only interested in creating a system that would allow ordinary citizens to collaboratively decide how they wished to be governed. What would the manifesto of such a collective, let’s call it X, look like?

1. Protected speech, assembly and association. Collectively, these function to foster the exchange of ideas and incubate a culture of debate, dissent and subversion — counteracting entrenched state power. Articles 16, 17 and 19 in Chapter 1 (Fundamental Rights) of Pakistan’s Constitution promise each but the polity has simply failed to uphold any. X must ensure all individuals have the freedom to speak their minds in an unadulterated manner and enter/exit political, cultural, religious, etc ventures at will. This will form the bedrock of an empowered civil society and broader system in which extremism is curtailed and information easily circulated: helping establish clarity about problems.

2. Empowered local government. In a country as heterogeneous as Pakistan, it is simply impossible for a federation to be functional with such a massive gulf between decision-makers and ‘end consumers’. Despite the 18th Amendment, provincial governments are simply unaware of the needs and grievances of their constituencies, let alone in the position to do anything about them. Article 140-A of the Constitution promises local governments that are ‘politically, financially and administratively’ empowered — none of which is true today. X must ensure the NFC Award is devolved to the level of districts, with transparent electoral cycles at regular intervals to determine governing authorities.

3. Land redistribution. Parliamentary assemblies are currently populated by ‘electables’, large landlords that possess coercive power over their........

© The Express Tribune