Signals of political decay |
Signals emerging from the current political landscape are not a good omen for Pakistan's political system - a reality apparent to anyone with even a scant sense of politics. The preamble of the Constitution explicitly states that sovereignty over the entire universe belongs to Almighty Allah alone, and that the authority exercised by the people of Pakistan within the limits prescribed by Him is a sacred trust. In essence, this means that only the chosen representatives of the people are empowered to exercise political authority, and that all other organs of the state are subordinate to this mandate.
The entire government machinery is, therefore, accountable to Parliament. The Rules of Business framed under the Constitution make it abundantly clear that policies set by the Cabinet or the relevant minister are to be implemented by the bureaucracy and all subordinate bodies.
However, it has been observed that although the existing government claims full constitutional legitimacy, it has surrendered considerable space to unelected bodies, in negation of the spirit of the Constitution. In the process, democratic institutions are being weakened.
Without individual liberty - so long as it does not injure anyone - democracy cannot exist. Democracies are not built merely through inserting lofty words into a constitution, but through sound political practices in which government officials, whatever their nomenclature,........