 Introduction

 Etymology of the word – Democracy

 Definition of Democracy
 History of Democracy
 Types of Democracy
 Democracy in the World Politics

 Western Democracy - The most prominent Form of Politics

 Characteristics of Western Democracy
 Secularism
 Capitalism
 Nationalism
 Party system
 Planting the Democracy
 Democracy and the Arab Spring

 Democracy in Pakistan
 A brief History of Pakistan’s Politics
 Which served the people best? Dictatorship vs Democracy
 Pakistan – A Quasi-Democracy
 Flaws in Pakistani Democracy

 What else if not Democracy?

 An Islamic form of Government for an Islamic Republic
 Viewpoint of Quaid-i-Azam about Form of Government in Pakistan
 Islam - A Complete Way of Life
 Iqbal’s opinion about Democracy
 Caliphate - Islamic Democracy
 Characteristics of Caliphate
 Principals of Islam
 A Legislative Body
 Ijma and Ijtihad
 Muslim Nationalism

 Caliphate – Solution to the Persisting Problems of Pakistan

 Can effectively Curb Sectarianism
 Can Put Extremism to an End
 Consolidation of Religion and State
 Can Realize the Dream of an Islamic State
 Can be a Milestone to Achieve Muslim Unity and Nationalism

 Conclusion
 Democracy is a compound Greek word consisting of two parts: “Demos” means the
population or the people and “Kratia” means the ruler or government, so the word means
the government of the people. The concept was given by the Greeks and was practiced in
some city-states of Greece like Athens etc. during the 6th and 5th BCE.
In recent times, the definition of democracy proposed by Abraham Lincoln, the 16th
President of the United States of America, is widely considered to be the true
representative of the term. He define democracy as:
“A government of the people, for the people and by the people”.
This definition postulates that any government that is elected by a people to rule
them and to ensure their benefits, rights and interests can be regarded as a democratic
government. Democracy might be most widely accepted and acknowledged form of the
government around the globe today. Democracy is now considered to be the first
prerequisite to ensure not only the development of a country, but also its people and to
ensure the human rights, supremacy of law, inter alia, and hence, practically the civilized
world seems unwilling to accept any other political system in the world.
Though the Greek introduced Democracy to the world, but at the same time the city-
state of Rome also adopted this form of government and called their city-state “The
Republic”. The Senate of the Rome was considered to be the holder of great powers, though
the Senators were selected indirectly and not every tom, dick and harry could be a senator.
The Senators were, however, considerably influential Romans. The jurisdiction of the
Senate was a number of times challenged and jeopardized by several tyrants, Julius Caesar
being one of the notable ones. With the turning of the pages of history, we see how
democracy was adopted by other nations as well. The prevalent system of Government,
most noticeably Monarchy, was substituted with democracy. By the 20th century,
democracy could be found in most of the nations of the world.
The democracy is usually divided into three types:
Direct Democracy: This form of government is where the people directly
make the decisions of the state. The typical Athenian democracy is said to be the
Direct Democracy. Such democracy involves the methods of referenda etc. that
directly empower the people to take the decisions.
Representative Democracy: The people select their representatives, who are
empowered to take the decisions on the behalf of the people. This is the form of
government that is practiced in most of the countries of the world, and in fact has
become to be considered as the real democracy. Just like most of the countries of the
world, as per the constitution of Pakistan, there will be representative democracy in
the country.
Religious Democracy: The form of government where the values and
teachings of a certain religion have considerable effect on laws, legislation, and
 rules, is called a religious democracy. The laws and rules of Pakistan are enacted in
view of the teachings of Islam, and institutes like Council of Islamic Ideology are
working to ensure that no law is against the teachings of Islam. However, it can’t be
said that Pakistan is a religious democracy.
In the world politics today, democracy has become the most widely acknowledged
and accepted form of government. For example, when a new country emerges on the face of
the world, the first thing that other nations think before granting it de-facto or de jure
recognition is whether or not the form of government would be democracy. The newly
established countries or governments are often “motivated” by the world powers to opt for
democracy to be their form of the government. In fact, other forms of governments are
strongly opposed, negated and even frowned upon.
The western form of democracy is the most prominent form of government in the
world. The democracy was conceived in the west and, resultantly, the characteristics of
democracy were outlined and established by the western scholars. Resultantly, the western
democracy is not confined to the west anymore, rather has spread to most parts of the
world. One of the best and biggest example is that of India, which is a South Asian country
of about 1.5 billion people and has western democracy as the form of the government. It is
imperative to discuss the important characteristics of the western democracy, so that a
comparative analysis may be done afterwards.
Of all the characteristics of Western Democracy, most common and important are:
Secularism: The doctrine of the secularism is the most important
characteristic of the western democracy. Soon after the western nations decided to
break apart theology from state, and limiting religion to church, the idea of
secularism strengthened. The canon of Protestantism is regarded as the foundation
to secularism in the west. This doctrine simply rejects theological considerations
and religions. Though, in most of the secular states, people have the right to practice
their religions but simultaneously there is also this right that says that religion
would not be imposed on state, government or politics. Despite all its apparent
good, secularism has put a negative influence on societies as well. The moral values
in such societies are not at all taken into consideration. Atheism is always promoted
in such societies.
Capitalism: The economies of a state having western democratic government
are controlled not by the government but by individuals. Big corporate companies
and entrepreneurs own the capital goods and have the ability to manipulate the
economy. Capitalism, just like the doctrine of secularism, is too much positivist. A
capitalist society believes in no morality just in the things that can be weighed,
measured and priced. In simplest terms, a capitalist society places a price tag on
everything.
 Nationalism: In western democracy, Nationalism is the patriotic feeling to a
certain country or boundaries. A nationalist in western democracy is someone who
remains loyal and faithful to his country and nothing else, not even religion. Such
nationalism in western democracy thrives primarily because of secularism. The
term “Pakistaniyat” is such an example.
Party system: Another important characteristic of the western democracy is
the party system. The electorates or representatives are divided in multiple groups
called the political parties. These political parties give their separate manifestos but
over the period of history we have seen that such political parties try to overthrow
or jeopardize the government of a rival party using whatever means possible. Such
events often lead to unrest, anarchy and destruction. So, the party system is in fact
the initial division of a nation.
In recent times, the world powers seem to have been more interested in
overthrowing other forms of government in different countries and planting democracies.
For example, the champions of democracy attacked Iraq in 2003 on the pretext of Weapons
of Mass Destruction merely to overthrow a dictator and plant democracy. The result of
which have been known to all, as thousands perished with no avail and the country still in
ashes.
Recently, the so-called Arab Spring that emerged from Tunisia and spread to other
countries like Libya, Egypt and Syria, is, in fact, a western motivated effort to overthrow the
dictatorships in these countries and planting western democracies. Nonetheless, the
anarchy and destruction that spread throughout these countries as a result of internal wars
made this ‘Red Arab Spring’. It is obvious that the world powers despite chanting the
mantra of democracy are not at all willing to remain steadfast to the democratic norms and
try continuously to jeopardize other countries in the name of democracy for their own
benefits and interests. Not unlike to these countries, the world powers usually influence
governments and democracy in Pakistan as well.
As already stated, Pakistan has the representative democracy, a bicameral form of
Parliament. The two tiers are the National Assembly, which comprises of the members who
are directly elected by the people, and the Senate, comprising of the members elected by
the members of the National Assembly. The reason of elaborating the structure of form of
government in vogue in Pakistan is to show that democracy in Pakistan, is not in its best
form. The President, Governors and Senators cannot be regarded as the representatives of
the people as they are not elected by the people. So, this form of parliamentary democracy
is not the best democracy.
Though Pakistan is said to be a democratic country, however, democracy has not
been able to thrive and flourish in the country. One of the primary reasons for this as per
the political analysts is that in 67 years of Pakistan’s political history, the military dictators
ruled the country for regimes longer than the democratic governments. The non-continuity
of the democracy resulted in absence of democratic norms at all levels of the society.
 This has resulted in creation of a school of thought that thinks that Pakistan should
have dictatorship and in their defense present facts and figures that tell that Pakistan was
developed more by the military dictators. Hence the question, either it has been the
dictatorship or the democracy that has served the people best?
It would be mere injustice if someone says that dictatorship has not done anything
for the country. In fact, dictatorship has indeed served the people far more than the
democratic governments. In all sectors, from education, economy, energy, defense,
institutionalization, industry, and others, the development in the times of military rulers
was far more than that of the democratic governments. Corruption, mismanagement,
maladministration and monetary embezzlement are always at rise in democratic
governments, as the biggest scams of corruption surface during these governments.
The political history of Pakistan has proved that the prevailing form of government
cannot be regarded as democracy, it is rather a quasi-democracy. The benefits and effects
of democracy are not reaching to the common people. Yet, the politicians for their own
interest invent phrases like “democracy is the best revenge” or “worst democracy is better
than best dictatorship”. Nonetheless, the thing that matters is how much are the people
relieved with a form of government. Undoubtedly, the dictators have served the people far
better than the elected governments.
The quasi-democracy of Pakistan is flawed. With the passage of time, Pakistan has
seen rise in the hereditary politics. The two biggest political parties of Pakistan are
following family politics. To be a political leader in Pakistan, the most acceptable credential
is that one must be born in a political family. And a government formed by such parties can
never serve the people. A single person, just like a monarch, rules the nation for multiple
times and for longer periods. The factor of nepotism or favoritism is very high in such
governments. Iqbal had rightly said:
(We ourselves have dressed imperialism in the garb of democracy
When man has grown to be a little self‐conscious and self‐observant.)
The majority of the people of Pakistan is not educated (even lesser are politically
aware and educated) and are not able to rightly exercise their democratic right. It is quite
obvious that the votes are sold and purchased. People, instead of voting meritoriously to a
candidate who is competent, cast their vote on the basis of caste, creed, region, race, and
language. Hence, the ability of the people to foresee or prioritize the betterment of the
society is deliberately or unintentionally hampered. The tradition of rigging in elections has
also dragged democracy in Pakistan to its worst. The candidates who come to the
assemblies by using unfair means are more prone to be corrupt and fraudulent.
Obviously, democracy - at least in the present form – is not fit for this country, as it
is not serving the purpose and is defective. Recent efforts by a significant intellectual and
philosopher to change the system or form of the government of Pakistan prove that
democracy has failed and a new system is needed to be introduced in the country.
 Pakistan is an Islamic Republic. The basis of Pakistan’s creation is the Two Nations
Theory, of which religion is the basic and fundamental factor. It is argued that for an
Islamic republic, the Islamic form of government should be established. Islam is a complete
way of life and not merely a religion. Quaid-i-Azam also supported this fact, when he said:
“I do not know what the ultimate shape of this constitution is going to be, but I am sure
that it will be of a democratic type, embodying the essential principles of Islam. Today
they are as applicable in actual life as they were 1,300 years ago. Islam and its
idealism have taught us democracy.”
The idea of democracy presented by Islam does not support the characteristics of
Western Democracy like Secularism, Nationalism, and Liberalism. Islam talks of Muslim
unity and brotherhood. Allama Muhammad Iqbal, not only the national poet of Pakistan but
a great theoretical politician and intellect of the sub-continent, strongly supported the
Islamic Democracy. He categorically opposed all forms of feudal lordship, kingship,
tyranny, etc., and pleaded that the people should decide their own fates.
In his book, the “Reconstruction of Religious Though in Islam”, Iqbal propounds that
the form of the government in any Islamic state must adhere to the Islamic norms,
traditions and legislation. He advocated that instead of giving every individual the right to
vote, a certain electoral college should be made. This idea is inspired of the Shoora that was
first constituted by the second caliph Umer-ibn-Khat’tab to select the Caliph of the Muslims.
The members of the Shoora were influential people, well versed in theology, politics,
foreign relations, law etc.
(Democracy is a certain form of government in which
Men are counted but not weighed.)
Iqbal proposed that the powers of a legislative assembly or body should be vested in
this Shoora. This Shoora must represent all schools of thoughts and must work on the
principals of Ijma (consensus of Muslims over an issue) and Ijtihad (the interpretation of
issues not discussed in Qur’an). He, hence, was in favor of a technocratic legislative body.
Iqbal proposed strongly that the Muslims must enhance the Muslim Nationalism amongst
them. He was not in favor of separate Muslim countries. He believed that Muslims if divided
by borders would divide them more and more. One example of this divide is the death of
thousands of Muslims died fighting each other in Iraq-Iran war. Iqbal says:

Country, is the biggest among these new gods!

What is its shirt is the shroud of Religion
For Iqbal, Muslims are a borderless nation.
The question that comes in mind is can Caliphate solve the problems of Pakistan?
The Caliphate can curb some big problems of Pakistan, one of which is the Sectarianism
which the country is facing for last three decades. With representatives of all schools of
thought in the Shoora or Legislative body working on the lines of Ijma and Ijtehad, the
problem of sectarianism can be solved. The extremism because of non-implementation of
Islamic form of government in the country will also be put to an end.
Today, in Pakistan following the lines of western democracy, religion and state are
oft considered separately. In an Islamic republic, government or politics cannot be
separated from the religion, as religion is the driving force for the government. Iqbal said:
(Let it be a monarch’s rule or Commoners’ Show
Statecraft divorced from Faith leads to a reign of terror.)
The above discussion clearly postulates that the quasi-democracy in Pakistan is not
at all the appropriate form of government for the country. Two-Nations Theory, the basis of
creation of this country, does not allow such a form of government that is against the
principals of Islamic form of government. Pakistan has to be a religious democracy. If
Islamic democratic system is implemented, state and religion will be consolidated. The
dream of an Islamic Republic of Pakistan would be realized. The past of the Islamic
caliphate shows the grandeur and greatness of Muslim world. As long as the Muslim world
remained consolidated under a caliph and center, it thrived as a nation, flourished as a
society and remained the pinnacle of excellence in every field of life.