DEMOCRACY

Democracy has been defined by US President, Abraham Lincoln, as “Government of the people, for the people and by the people. It is the ideal form of government because it represents the general interest of the people and not a particular class. The democratic form of government is based on the willing consent of the people. General will and not force is the basis of the state. Democracy id the mechanism through which a general will is expressed.

The important features of democratic institution are universal suffering, frequent elections, well-organized parties, liberty of speech, freedom of association and freedom of opinion. These features, of course, serve the cause of liberty and freedom. The state recognizes the personality of the individual. The state is not superior to the citizens who compose it. The individuals in the democratic state are not like “ dumb driven castle” but active citizens who take a lively interest in the affair of the state.

The four pillars of democracy are the rule of law, freedom of opinion, freedom of association and freedom of press. The rule of law means that all men are equal before the law of state. Public opinion acts as a check upon the government. The people have a right of positive criticism through a paper media and electronic media. Democracy is the guardian of civil liberty.

Party system is the soul of democracy. Without well-organized parties, parliamentary institutions cannot be run. The party organize the voters, from the planks of the party program, elect leaders, create public opinion, carry on canvassing among the masses, speeches are delivered and the party leaders tour throughout the country. Seats are contested. The party in power selects the ministers who form the Cabinet. The Cabinet is said to be the keystone of the democratic state. The opposition party has to play an active role in democracy so that the  party in power might realize its responsibility in the interest of the citizens.

Many attacks have been made on the parliamentary type of  government It is said that the masses are ignorant and apathetic in a democracy am they do not posses  the shrewdness to select leaders. Representation and fully mis-representation. They are utterly and they are incompetent in selecting the right candidate. Elections are expensive and Parliament are “national talking shops” The leaders in a democracy feather their own nest; they have their own axe to grind.

In spite of the drawbacks inherent in democracy, democracy remains the best and ideal form of government. In a democracy liberty and authority are not opposed to each other. The democratic state is not a power system but a welfare system. It consists for the welfare of the people. The government is a trust and there sis no coercion, no tyranny and oppression.

Democracy, in our country, is not so strong as another countries. From the beginning of the birth of Pakistan,  so many times Democracy was demolished by a dictator. Luckily, we have achieved democracy after a long dictatorship and all the power have been transferred in democratic way. Now it is a duty of every Pakistani to preserve the fruit of democracy and avoid to give opportunity entering the dictatorship again. As well as it is a huge responsibility of our democratic leaders to sacrifice their will in the favor of mutual interest of the nation so that no one can look forward to another dictator as a survivor.