Governance and Accountability

I quite enjoy listening to the members of parliament, both provincial and national, extol the virtues of the “democracy” that they have helped to restore in Pakistan. While its a great claim to make, what democracy have we been given for the votes that we have cast? As a nation, we have long demanded accountability and transparency from our government, but to this day, despite the many promises, our democracy is still hidden behind a shroud that only the privileged can see.

When we look at democracy in Pakistan, we should also look at the things that can be done without budgetary increases, long debates and foolish television appearances. The United States Congress publishes a Congressional Record for each day that the Congress meets. In this Congressional Record, there are all the debates, floor speeches, votes and voting by member, so that the American people can see their government at work. Additionally, these same Congressmen and Senators maintain regular office hours so that their constituents can drop in to discuss problems or concerns they have about government.

These same members are expected to maintain camp offices, that they regularly visit, to keep regular contact with the voters and gauge their feelings about government policy, reporting back to the member’s office. And, for those that just can’t get enough, there is the C-SPAN network that covers the activities within the US Congress, Senate, Committee and Sub-Committee meetings live for anyone to watch. Sure, when there are things of national security being discussed the cameras are off, but otherwise, the people are invited to take part in the government.

For their tireless work and never ending scrutiny for the public, these Congressmen and Senators are paid US$ 100,000 annually. The President of the United States makes US$ 250,000. Consider that for a moment.

If you do some digging, you will find that most functioning democracies work in a similar fashion, with similar good governance practices. These good governance practices allow the citizens of the respective country to understand the issues and problems that their country faces without the spin of the media and soundbites for explanations.

In Pakistan, the government doesn’t allow the people to be involved in the governing practice. Our responsibility in the Pakistani form of democracy is to attend the rallies, make the noise, get beat up and arrested by the police (if in opposition), and cast a vote. Usually, in that specific order. But why do the citizens of Pakistan not have any involvement in government after that? Because the politicians become rock stars after elections and no longer need the people until the awards ceremonies and the next time the box has to be filled.

Now, please don’t consider the nightly television dramas that pretend to pass themselves off as issue based talk shows as anything more than entertainment. Having watched many of these during numerous “crises” in Pakistan, it is blatantly obvious that their sole intent is to confuse the logical, strengthen the illogical and incite the illiterate. Hosts have no control over guests; guests make outlandish accusations that can’t be proven, but go unchecked or unchallenged. And shows that start with interesting topics end with nothing interesting being said.

Let’s take the Lal Masjid standoff as an example.

For months prior to the fateful standoff, the Lal Masjid brigade kidnapped, harassed and extorted common citizens and foreign guests to further their cause of cleansing societies ills. During these months, after each emboldened step, the media and intelligentsia questioned the government’s resolve in dealing with militants in the heart of Islamabad. Time after time, talk show after talk show, the comments were the same, ”the government needs to bring this violence to an end.” How, no one dared to offer a solution. When the Musharraf government surrounded the Red Mosque, and gave repeated ultimatums to the people inside to come out and surrender and no harm would come of them, the media called it an “amazing act of patience” to not storm the mosque or launch an operation. However, most of the politicos, pundits and talk show hosts were calling for a military operation to end the standoff.

At the 10th hour, numerous religious leaders stepped forward to attempt to negotiate the release of the people and the surrender of the Ghazi brothers. Failed. A group of political leaders went to the Red Mosque to attempt the same, only to see failure. Television networks continued to give the Lal Masjid brigade’s leaders free air time to entice public opinion to the plight that they were suffering at the hands of the government and military. Cries were made for “safe passage” in exchange for the hostages. No deal. Meetings went on at the President and Prime Minister houses searching for a solution that would not cost any lives, none could be agreed upon. Then late one night, the military offensive started against the Red Mosque.

It was an almost immediate position change by the media from demanding action be taken to calling the military operation a “tragedy” and in the same breath, the people that not hours ago were militants, became marytrs. Militant to marytr in the blink of an eye? Why not? When in Pakistan, you can go from criminal to President with the swipe of a pen, why does this seem so impossible?

Our government needs to realize that we are in a technology rich, media friendly environment that can allow for much greater transparency than Pakistan has ever seen before. If the government were to learn what technology is and its power, and I say this knowing that the Government of Pakistan’s numerous websites have not been updated since the new government took over, the people could become more empowered. Let’s understand how simple it would be.

First, there are 5 PTV channels. Switch one channel to GTV – Government Television – whose only responsibility is to televise the Provincial and National Assemblies. In addition, Government Television could cover Committee meetings, such as the Economic Coordination Committee, Public Accounts Commission, Election Commission, etc. Government Television could also provide regular interviews with the different MPAs, MNAs and Senators so that the nation and their constituencies could learn more about their vision, views and stand on current issues. Government Television would also provide a transparent view into what the government is doing so that the voters can be more confident in the process as well as the people.

Second, since Al Gore created the Internet and John McCain’s breakthrough Blackberry invention, technology has greatly matured. In today’s digital age, it is possible to provide 24/7 access to the activities of the government. If the government were to hire a small team that would be responsible for transcribing all the activites of the various assemblies, committees and cabinet meetings, this same team could put digital copies on a website so that anyone interested can read online or download daily updates of what their elected represenatives are doing. This could also be used as a platform to discuss upcoming national events, foriegn dignitary visits, up to date profiles of all the members with bills/laws authored, attendance and voting records.

How many people would use it? Initially, not many, but over time, there would be increased usage, not only by the public, but more importantly by the media to better prepare for guests and topics. Also many people would take great comfort in having the ability to check what the government did today, whether they use it or not.

End of the day, if we want to gain respect from our own citizens, we must be willing to put more on the table in terms of services and information. While the Information Minister works on drafting a Freedom of Information Act for Pakistanis, a smarter step would be to implement the two things mentioned above so that the voters would be able to gain more understanding and confidence in the workings of their elected government. And let’s be honest, Freedom of Information Act in Pakistan, really? From the same government that clamped down on the media to stop discussing any corruption, mental illness or other things that related to the potential President of Pakistan ’s character and Pakistan’s “independent” media complied.

Former President Musharraf changed the political landscape by allowing privately owned electronic media channels to come into existence and force. Does this government have the khutzpah to go the next step and make themselves transparent and truly accountable to the nation? Or will they do their best to clamp down the freedoms gained under a military dictator?

No related posts.