Governance and the Devolution plan

Ahmed Ijaz Malik

The success or the failure of local bodies system under the devolution plan is a debated issue in Pakistan these days. There are those who find the system truly relevant for a country like Pakistan, where the social structure is of such a nature, that the local political leaders are better equipped to solve the problems of the people. There are some who have their reservations about the system on the grounds that the same old politicians have come to the scene, some are of the opinion that it is just another way of the military to prolong their rule and that the newly elected Nazims and Naib Nazims are not well equipped to solve peoples problems since they don't have any experience in executive and judicial procedures.

The actual situation however is more complex. It is not only a question of political socialisation and governance and but actually a question of a search for identity. Pakistan faces a dilemma faced by similar states that are termed as 'New States' in international politics. These states came into existence after the Second World War and hence the end of colonialism. Though these states may have a history of centuries; as civilisations, yet they have experienced a complex system of rule, which has lead to the distortion of their political culture.

Taking the example of Pakistan before the British, the areas of Sindh and Punjab were under the Moghul rule and Baluchistan and Frontier province along with the northern areas had regional governance of the tribal and princely nature. The system of governance was thus either the 'Mansabdari' as of the Moughals or the 'Jirga' as under the tribal and princely states. The British introduced their own system of governance and tried to find a relevance of the mansabdari system in their new system so that the population is not alienated to the new form of rule implemented by the British. The evidence of these can be seen in all the Government of India Acts, the introduction of 'Dyarchy' and the most significant Government of India act 1935. These constitutional and political developments have played their part in political socialisation of Pakistan as the constitutions have been based on these acts. These constitutional developments have in turn lead to a mixed culture where there is a dichotomy of rule and a search for a viable system of governance. The facts that a person has to runs from pillar to post in trying to get a document verified or to pay a revenue fee or even get a legal possession of his own property, points to the deliberately planted complications in the system by the colonial masters so as to enable the governing class of the bureaucracy rule over the middle class.

The difference between the countries that did not have a centuries old history of being a 'Nation state' and those that have been a Nation state is significant. The developed countries of today have a history of governance, no matter of whatever form. The new states in order to decide the type of government that would suit them most do not have a model to follow. They cannot revert back to the system of governance that existed before their colonial masters occupied them, nor can they completely implement the system of governance of the colonials as there are differences in the conditions and the infrastructure between the colonial powers and the newly independent states.

Pakistan as a state has to go through the process of political socialisation in order to acquire a stable political culture. Though Pakistan does not have to go through the laborious process of political vicissitudes that the developed countries of today went through at the beginning of their political development, but it is essential that the democracy friendly systems of governance be given a chance. The spirit of democracy and politics lies in the principles of governance by the people. The devolution plan in that sense is in conformity with the principles of democracy. It cannot promise the remedy of all the ills that Pakistan faces in the spheres of politics, governance and administration; but it could lead to the evolution of a system which would be relevant and applicable to our social structure and become a hope for those who believe to be the ancestors of a proud civilisation.