Prevalent political culture impediment to democracy: Dr Raheeq Abbasi

Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi, Nazim-e-Ala of Minhaj-ul-Quran International, has said that the ritual of elections in the name of democracy cannot bring about any change in the country. How would those elected on fake degrees serve the country? The rulers have clarified their priorities by cutting down the educational budget. The legislators have been interested in increasing their fiscal powers but pay little heed to the imperative of enhancing literacy rate in the country. He said that it is a matter of national shame that our neighbours such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have managed better literacy rates while Pakistan’s performance remains pathetic in the area. Our parliamentarians, he maintained, sough fake degrees to meet the condition of being a graduate and degrees of about 141 legislators are too vague and unclear to be illegible. This has been done intentionally so that truth about the reality of their educational credentials could not be known.

Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi expressed these views while delivering his keynote speech in a seminar at a local university. He demanded that the assemblies should be purged of the fake degree holders and educational qualification should be at least M.A. or its equivalent. Giving example of Iran and other western countries, he said that those who lead the nation are PhDs and technocrat ministers play important role in the national development. He deplored the fact that Pakistan’s political system does not have space for competence and character. The political parties do not issue tickets to the exceptionally talented people of the middle class who have the potential to change the destiny of their country. “The culture of having the winning horses has blocked all roads for the middle-class educated youth that lead to the corridors of power. The politics of dynasty rules the roost,” he opined.

Dr Raheeq Abbasi said that children of the ruling elites consider the power as their inheritance and birthright. This dynastic politics has undermined the foundations of the country. The situation has led to the prospect of clash between the state institutions. He said that the government’s focus remains on securing loans and no policy attention is being paid to the revival of local industry as a part of national resource mobilization.