Pakistan Killing Democracy

In Pakistan the local elections that are scheduled to happen in October have been postponed indefinitely because of the security situation. This is the way that all dictatorships start. The previously elected local officials are being replaced with centrally appointed governors.

While I appreciate that it is all to easy for an outsider to say that elections should be held, when I would not be facing the risks. But only with the legitimacy of an election held freely and fairly can people know that the policies enacted in their name are being carried out via the will of the majority. I know that democracy is not and never will be perfect, but it is the only system that is truly fair and just.

The problem is that terrorism is blamed for needing to cancel the elections, yet as a major factor fuelling the terrorism is the corruption in the Pakistani political system, stopping the elections only feeds into the cause of the violence. Therefore adding to the problem.

If we really want to defeat terrorism, we need to support the democratic process and stop supporting corruption in governments.