Civic and
Democratic Values: The Mirror We Avoid
By Noor Qureshi
Pakistanis proudly call themselves followers of Islam. We
talk about justice, honesty, and public service — values deeply rooted in our
religion. But when it comes to practicing those values in public life,
particularly in democracy and civic duties, our actions tell a very
different story.
Democracy gives us the power to choose our representatives —
those who will legislate, create policies, and guide national development. But
in reality, we often vote based on:
- Personality
cults, not performance.
- Biradari
(clan) or ethnic ties, not competence.
- Promises
of personal favors, like fixing a street— not vision or policy.
We demand that the MNA or MPA build our street, get our
cousin a job, or stop our electricity bill. We do not ask what they have done
for education, justice, or local institutions. In short, we trade votes for
short-term benefits, even if it harms our community or future generations.
Only those with money,
influence, or the ability to lie convincingly are usually able to contest
and win elections. Honest, competent, or educated people rarely stand a
chance, and if they do, they’re often ignored because they don't play the
dirty game of politics. We blame the system, but we are the system — we
choose these leaders, again and again, knowing what they are.
We Demand Services, But Avoid
Our Responsibilities. We want everything: like Free education, healthcare,
clean water, safety, infrastructure, but many of us don’t pay taxes, steal
electricity, violate traffic rules, or occupy land illegally.
We see the state as a provider — not as a partnership. We expect the government
to solve all problems while we break the same laws we want others to follow.
This is not patriotism. This is not faith. This is entitlement
and hypocrisy.
We talk about Islamic values,
say we want Islamic governance. But in practice, we elect the person who benefits us, even if
he lies, cheats, or is corrupt , we ignore Islamic teachings of truth,
service, justice, and collective responsibility. True Islamic leadership is
based on Amanah (trust), Adal (justice), and Khidmat (service). But we
ignore these principles for personal convenience.
Most voters don’t know the basic
responsibilities of an MNA or MPA. We ask them to: Fix sewers, Build roads, Solve
water issues. But these are the job of local governments — which are either
inactive or politically sidelined. In absence of strong local bodies,
politicians become providers instead of lawmakers — and democracy becomes a
market of promises, not policies.
People learned to survive by favor, not fairness. So we
copied what we saw: shortcuts, sifarish, and self-interest. But if we keep
repeating this, we will never build a just or stable nation.
If you are a young Pakistani,
don’t wait for better leaders — be one. Start by speaking the truth, Voting
responsibly, Respecting the law and Serving your community without reward.
