Title: Political Institutions, Growth and Development in Pakistan (2008 - 2013)
Abstract: IntroductionPolitical institutions are a prerequisite for the growth and development of any country. In Pakistan, political institutions are hardly ever developed on professional basis. The primary reason for this is dynastic politics in Pakistan. In which family, party and individual interests are preferred instead of national interests. Therefore, growth restricts itself to few families. Development at large seems little. Here we describe the major political institutions in Pakistan. As far as the definition of the political institution is concerned as, we mentioned earlier there is no pragmatic political institution in Pakistan. However, the edifices of the political institutions without their pragmatism do exist in this country named as parliament, executive and judiciary. These three major political institutions are the backbone of any state. Military and civil bureaucracies assist the major institutions. Media in Pakistan is a bridge between people and the political institutions. The time is chosen for this study is 2008-13 because it is the first time in the history of Pakistan that a democratic government completed its five years term. We see in detail that how these political institutions work in Pakistan and work for the growth and development at large.Theoretical FrameworkPakistan is an Islamic Republic where democracy is the law of the land. Constitution is Federal by nature. Bureaucracy and military have been assigned duties to perform. Citizens are guaranteed all fundamental rights written in the 1973 constitution. There are twenty constitutional amendments since 1973 to date.Theoretically, political institutions do exist in Pakistan. Dynastic politics is occupying over the three major political institutions and few families abducted the economic resources of the country. These families are not only occupying the economic resources but also delivering the economic fruits according to their own heart. For example, we find that political institutions patronized by feudal lords who give employment to their Kins. This top to down hierarchy of employment keeps the decision-making in the hands of feudal lords who run this country. It creates paucity in wisdom among the decision makers as few families hardly comply the needs and demands of the whole country. It does not end here but this nepotism travels in civil and military bureaucracies who in return help the major political institutions. It is true that in military and civil bureaucracies most of the employees recruited on merit but top positions are filled on political grounds. It create mess in the longer run as those individuals who even do not belong directly to feudal lineage but enjoy the authority and power they could never attain on merit. They become such individuals who believe in wagging their tails after incapable top elite of the country for sustaining status quo. They are usually educated individuals who assist the major political institutions by suggesting different legitimate acts that has been inherited from the British rule.Britishers were the masters and intended to control their subjects. Thus, they made laws accordingly while after partition in 1947, few individuals who grabbed lands from their master for giving them undue favours became decision maker and controlled over maximum economic resources of Pakistan. They started ruling over Pakistan the way Britishers ruled. This is where the shoe pinches. The people of Pakistan are still slaves who wag their tails and bow before their masters. Few good, honest officers in every institution of Pakistan believe in the independence of Pakistan, respect the people of the country, and believe in rule of law.2 The ongoing status of Pakistan is just because of those few people. Let us see how these theoretical apprehensions work in operational framework.Operational FrameworkThere is a triangle as well as a vicious circle that is holding the economic resources in few hands and that circle is a real hurdle in growth and development at the grass root level in the country. …
Publication Year: 2014
Publication Date: 2014-12-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 2
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