Why has democracy in Pakistan always remained unfinished? By: Gouya Roshan
Why has democracy in Pakistan always remained unfinished? Despite the electoral spectacle, democracy in Pakistan has never evolved into a stable and transparent system. What we have witnessed over the past seven decades is not the consolidation of popular sovereignty, but a vicious cycle of short-lived civilian governments, overt and covert military interventions, and deep public distrust toward politics. The core problem in Pakistan is not the absence of elections, but a structure that prevents real power from resting in the hands of the people. Pakistan was born in crisis from the very beginning. A rushed independence, widespread violence, the displacement of millions of refugees, and constant conflict with India produced a fragile, security-driven state. In such a context, the development of democratic institutions was pushed aside and “control” replaced “accountability.” Unlike many countries, in Pakistan the state took shape before society. A fragmented society, weak political par...