Session 7: Can Pakistan survive as a democratic state?

Ever since Pakistan was established, it has been struggling to become a democratic state. Although it was established in 1947, it did not manage to form a final constitution until 1971. However, in the sixty-seven years, the military has interfered in the democratic proceedings five times.

The fundamental principles on which our democracy is based is the trichotomy of power- which is that power should be equally divided between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary without interference from each other. 

Earlier, the interruptions of democratic proceedings appeared in the form of martial laws and suspension of judiciary and have now reached to the establishment of military courts. Is it necessary for the military to intervene protect the interests of people? These disrupt the trichotomy of power on which our system is based with the executive having more power and interfering in the matters of the judiciary.

Would Pakistan be able to overcome this unfair distribution of power in our system and be able to function as a true democracy?

Pakistan’s survival as a democratic state is difficult unless the system on which it is based is respected and a true government for the people is established.