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Pakistan’s
One Party Political System
We
all heard about Communist Party that ruled Soviet Union since
1917 until Soviet Union crumbled in early 90s. We also heard
about Bha’at Party of Iraq which ruled Iraq under Saddam Hussain
unit Iraq fell.
However, we choose to ignore Pakistan’s
single ruling party, Pakistan Army, which has ruled Pakistan
since its inception.
Sometimes, Pakistanis in their personal
discussions refer to Pakistan Army as a political party, but
they hardly discuss its political implications. For example, not
a single Pakistani scholar has done any serious research work
about the politics of Pakistan Army as a political party.
The fact of the matter is Pakistan Army is
more qualified to be treated, analyzed and understood as a
political party than an army designed to defend a geographical
territory called Pakistan.
Once we identify and declare Pakistan Army a
political party, it would be easier for us to understand its
political manifesto, political philosophy, its strategy and
methods to maintain its control over the state of Pakistan and
options for Pakistanis.
To identify Pakistan Army as a political
party we need to answer few simple questions and those questions
‘yes’ and ‘no’ answers will determine weather Pakistan Army is a
political party?
Does Pakistan Army’s core as an organization
discuss Pakistan’s political situation?
Yes.
Does it act to influence and change the
political situation?
Yes.
Does it involve into day to day political
activities?
Yes.
Does it formulate Pakistan’s internal and
external policies?
Yes.
Does it engage in dialogue and agreements
with foreign powers on behalf of Pakistan?
Yes.
These questions and their ‘yes’ answers
indicate Pakistan Army is a full-fledge political party and that
is how Pakistanis should treat it.
A few more questions will reveal the nature
of Pakistan Army as a political party.
Does Pakistan Army as a political army get
its mandate from the people of Pakistan to rule Pakistan?
No.
Does it go to polls and win polls to come
into power?
No.
Does it conduct its political affairs through
freely elected representatives of people of Pakistan?
No.
Several other questions can be included in
this list, but these few questions answered by ‘yes’ or ‘no’ are
enough to determine:
1) Pakistan Army is a political party.
2) It is a single ruling party of which has
evolved one party system in Pakistan.
3) It is a totalitarian party and it does not
represent the people of Pakistan
3) It is a political party like Communist
party of Soviet Union or Bha’at party of Iraq or Syria.
Soviet Union and Iraq have been destroyed.
Syria is on the way to destruction. What is going to happen to
Pakistan under this one totalitarian party system, it is up to
the people of Pakistan to think and decide.
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