Former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has urged political parties to stop creating “yes men and mirasis” and give their members greater freedom to speak and disagree within their own parties.
Speaking recently, Rafique said political parties need to build stronger internal institutions instead of producing people who simply praise their leadership.
Rafique argued that political parties need to overcome the fear of speaking against their own leadership. He said people who have spent decades in a political party should be able to express their views and expect the leadership to listen.
He also criticized the culture of political accusations and personal attacks. He opined that ordinary people are more concerned about their daily problems, justice and economic hardships than politicians trading allegations against each other.
The former minister said political parties must bring greater democracy into their own structures and develop a culture of consultation.
He also called for an empowered local government system with constitutional protection and said provincial finance commissions should receive a status similar to the National Finance Commission.
Rafique further argued that simply creating smaller provinces would not solve Pakistan’s problems. He said the country needs to address the concentration of power and improve political institutions instead.
He warned that political parties could eventually lose their relevance if they fail to reform themselves.
Rafique also called for greater acceptance of electoral outcomes. He said political parties should widen their consultation process instead of allowing decision-making to become concentrated in the hands of a few individuals.
He criticized the existing electoral structure which hardly allows middle class candidates to enter parliament. He called for credible election institutions and an electoral process free from interference.
The former minister warned that political and institutional failures could eventually push younger generations to demand change in ways that may become difficult for political parties, governments and state institutions to manage.
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