CSS 2018 Solved Pakistan Affairs Past Papers | Form of Government Best Suitable for Pakistan
The following question of CSS Pakistan Affairs 2018 is solved by Miss Iqra Ali, the best Pakistan Affairs Coach, on the guided pattern of Sir Syed Kazim Ali, which he taught to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory subjects for years. This solved past paper question is uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Question Breakdown
In this question, the examiner has asked you two things: first, to describe the political system of Pakistan, and second, your opinion about the form of government that suits the country to make it politically stable. You must decode the question carefully for a targeting and to-the-point answer. Here, the first part demands a descriptive, and the second demands an analytical answer. So, introduce your answer by adding the leading points you will write to your answer. Then, split your answer into two parts, where the second part must contain supporting sub-parts to showcase the legitimacy of your opinion. The arguments and supporting evidence give the analysis. So, there is no need to put analysis separately and end your answer with a conclusion.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-What is the Structure of the Political System of Pakistan?
- Executive
- ✓President
- ✓Prime Minister and the Federal Cabinet
- Legislative
- ✓Senate (Upper House)
- ✓National Assembly (Lower House)
- ✓Proportional Representation
- Judiciary
- ✓Supreme Court
- ✓High Courts
- ✓ The Federal Sharia Court
3-A Diagrammatic Illustration of the Federal, Provincial, and Local Government System in Pakistan
4-Which Form of Government is Suitable to Make a Country Politically Stable?
4.1 Federal Parliamentary Democracy, a Viable Option to Deal with the Long-Standing Issues Confronting Pakistan
- ✓Supporting Argument I: Federal Parliamentary Democracy Addresses Anathema of Representation among the Multi-Ethnic Population
- Evidence: The 7th NFC Award of 2010 has been Proved as a ‘Progressive Leaf Forward’ towards Solving the Lingering Disputes over Provincial Autonomy
- ✓Supporting Argument II: FederalParliamentary Democracy Stabilizes the Politics by Ensuring Shared Government
- Evidence: The coalition government of 2008-13 formed by PPP by entering into a coalition (Grand Democratic Alliance) with (PML-N), (MQM), and (ANP) helped reduce extreme political polarization
- ✓Supporting Argument III: Federal parliamentary Democracy Prioritizes Addressing Needs of the People byEnsuringFlexible Governance
- Evidence: In the case of Pakistan, unequal development and political marginalization have remained a major cause of historic grievances of minority provinces
- ✓Supporting Argument IV: Parliamentary Democracy Obstructs Majority Rule by Keeping Checks on Ethnic Domination to Promote National Integration
- Evidence: The Controversy of Punjab vs. other Provinces has Inflicted Colossal Damage to National Integration
5-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
The structure of a country’s political system decides which form of government is best suited for its socio-political and economic stability. In the case of Pakistan, the political system of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is the Federal Parliamentary Democratic Republic. However, it is governed under the Constitution of 1973, which has been amended 25 times since 1947. It works under the framework of the federation, and the political power is divided between the Center, Provinces, and the local government bodies, but significant provincial autonomy is granted to the provinces with some residuary powers. The country has a multi-party system; however, the following points describe the key components of its political system. Without any doubt, a federal parliamentary form of government has the characteristics that best suit the social structure. The following arguments support the stance. First, the country has a multi-ethnic and linguistic population, and preservation of their cultural identity is a non-negotiable point for them. So, federal parliamentary democracy addresses the anathema of representation among the multi-ethnic population. Second, because an inclusive and shared government has the potential to address the historical grievances of the provinces, the federal parliamentary democracy can stabilize politics by ensuring a shared government. Third, as unequal development and political marginalization have remained a crucial cause of historic grievances of minority provinces, the federal parliamentary democracy can solve the issue by ensuring flexible governance. Last, as parliamentary democracy obstructs majority rule by keeping checks on ethnic domination, it can solve the problems regarding the lack of national integration. Hence, a parliamentary form of government under a federal structure best suits the political structure of Pakistan.
What is the structure of Pakistan’s political system?
The following points describe the key components of the country’s political system.
A- Executive
- ✓President
First, the President of Pakistan is the ceremonial head of the state. According to the Constitution of 1973, he must be a Muslim. He has a five-year term and is eligible for re-election but can’t hold more than two consecutive terms. The Electoral College, which consists of the members of the Senate, National Assembly, and Provincial Assemblies, elects him. However, he may be impeached or removed from the office of President based on incapacity or gross misconduct by a two-thirds vote of the members of the country’s Parliament. The President has residuary powers, but he acts on the advice of the Prime Minister.
- ✓Prime Minister and the Federal Cabinet
Second, the Prime Minister is the head of the government, appointed by the members of the National Assembly through voting. However, the Federal Cabinet and Council of Ministers assist the Prime Minister. In addition, on the advice of the Prime Minister, the President appoints the members of the Council of Ministers.
Cabinet: Third, the Federal Cabinet consists of provincial ministers, ministers of state, and advisers. It is responsible for the executive administration of various government departments.
B- Legislative
- ✓Senate (Upper House)
First, the country has a Bicameral Legislature, which consists of two houses of Parliament (Majli-e Shoora). The Upper House is the Senate, which has one hundred and four members. However, it is a permanent body that represents the provinces and provides equilibrium to the legislative process of the country. Its members are indirectly elected by provincial assemblies for a six-year term, with one-third of them retiring every three years. In addition, it consists of Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen, who serve with a three-year term.
- ✓National Assembly (Lower House)
Second, the lower house of the Parliament is the National Assembly for a five-year term. It consists of a Speaker, a Deputy Speaker, three hundred and forty-two members who are directly elected by the people and have a five-year term. The seats are allocated to each province, federally Administered Tribal Areas, and the capital territory. The National Assembly is more empowered than the Senate in terms of legislation, especially the legislation related to financial matters.
- ✓Proportional Representation
However, there is a proportional representation in the National Assembly and Senate. According to the Constitution of 1973, Article 51 6 (d) and (e), the members to the seats reserved for women and non-Muslims shall be elected in accordance with law through proportional representation system of political parties in the National Assembly. Moreover, the seats in both houses are reserved for women and religious minorities, ensuring representation from all sectors of society.
C- Judiciary
In the case of the Judiciary, Part-VII, Chapter-1, titled THE COURTS of the Constitution of 1973, deals with the Judicature of the country.
- ✓Supreme Court
According to the Constitution, there is one Supreme Court in the Federal Capital Territory of Islamabad. The Judicial Commission of Pakistan appoints the judges, which consist of a Chief Justice and four most senior judges of the Supreme Court and other members. The chairmen of the Supreme Court is the Chief Justice of Pakistan, appointed by the President. However, its members are determined by the Act of Parliament or fixed by the President. The judges are appointed under Article 175A of the Constitution. They must be citizens of the country and retire at sixty-five years of age. The Court has original, appellate, and advisory jurisdictions.
- ✓High Courts
According to the Constitution, there are four High Courts in each province and one High Court in the Capital territory. It consists of a Chief Justice and other judges as many as determined by law or fixed by the President. Now, there is a common High Court for Baluchistan and Sindh. The judges must be citizens of the country and retire at sixty-two years of age. The Chief Justice of the High Court makes before the Governor
- ✓The Federal Sharia Court
According to the Constitution, there shall be eight Muslim members of the FSC appointed by the President. However, the Court consists of one Chief Justice who served for a three-year term but is eligible for re-election. His decisions are bonded on the High Courts. The Court is assigned to determine the repugnancy of any Article of the Constitution with Islam.
A Diagrammatic Illustration of the Federal, Provincial, and Local Government System in Pakistan
Which Form of Government is Suitable to Make a Country Politically Stable?
Carved out of the Indian subcontinent, the country remained home to a diverse multi-ethnic and linguistic population. Historically, the areas that became its part have populations that remained habitual of enjoying vast political powers not only during British rule but also pre-British era. Moreover, the feudalistic ethos pervaded local chieftains who inhabited these areas, marked by their uncompromising attitudes over power and resource sharing. Therefore, it’s always not recommended for a form of government that facilitates the concentration of power in the hands of a few because it will lead to strong opposition and political instability. Indubitably, the political stability of the country is a reiteration of its survival as a state. So, having a form of government that best suits its social structure is indispensable for the country’s socio-economic and political standing.
Federal Parliamentary Democracy, a Viable Option to Deal with the Long-Standing Issues Confronting Pakistan
Without any doubt, a federal parliamentary form of government has the characteristics that best suit the country’s social structure. Although Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan, recommended a presidential form of government, the political leadership always wanted a more inclusive parliamentary form with a federal structure. The testimony is that all the constitutions, namely the Constitutions of 1956, 1962, and 1973 retained this feature. The following arguments favor the Federal Parliamentary System of government in Pakistan.
- ✓Federal Parliamentary Democracy Addresses Anathema of Representation among the Multi-Ethnic Population
As I discussed, the country has a multi-ethnic and linguistic population, and preservation of their cultural identity is a non-negotiable point for them. Moreover, they want politico-economic representation at the state level to preserve their cultural identity. Here, it is inevitable to note that the debacle of the Fall of Dhakha 1971 led to the dismemberment of East Pakistan. As the country has been grappling with the issues of representation, and the demand for more provincial autonomy remained intact over the years, a more inclusive government has the potential to offer harmony among the provinces. For illustration, the 7th NFC Award of 2010 has been Proven as a ‘Progressive Leaf Forward’ toward Solving the Lingering Disputes over Provincial Autonomy. The origin of this award is the Constitutional Act of 2010 in the Constitution of 1973, which decentralized the power and granted more provincial autonomy.
- ✓Federal Parliamentary Democracy Stabilizes Politics by Ensuring Shared Government
Adding more, an inclusive and shared government has the potential to address the historic grievances of the provinces. The country has continued dealing with political instability since its independence because of the urge for provincial autonomy and equitable representation of the federating units. So, a shared country can stabilize politics, as illustrated in the case where a coalition government formed and eluded the socio-political crisis. As an illustration, the coalition government of 2008-13 formed by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) by entering into a coalition (Grand Democratic Alliance) with the Pakistan Muslim League-Noon (PML-N), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), and (ANP) helped reduce extreme political polarization. Hence, a parliamentary form of government is a viable option.
- ✓Federal Parliamentary Democracy Prioritizes Addressing the Needs of the People by Ensuring Flexible Governance
Generally, parliamentary democracy facilitates decentralization of power, which is inevitable for provincial autonomy. More decentralization is directly proportional to a more inclusive and responsive government. However, the provincial government’s link to the local government ensures flexible governance and addresses the needs of the local people more promptly. For example, in the case of Pakistan, unequal development and political marginalization have remained a major cause of historic grievances of minority provinces. This issue led to instability in the country, so the parliamentary democracy is best suited for the system to ensure flexible governance.
- ✓Parliamentary Democracy Obstructs Majority Rule by Keeping Checks on Ethnic Domination to Promote National Integration
Adding more to the former, the decentralization of power grants more provincial autonomy and obstructs majority rule. Democracy ensures majority rule; however, a parliamentary system of government under democracy balances the distribution of political power among the federating units by keeping a check on ethnic domination. In a federal country, ethnic domination eludes the sense of national integration, which is detrimental to the country’s survival. For example, the Controversy over Punjab vs. other Provinces has inflicted colossal damage to national integration. Hence, to strengthen the sense of national integration, federal parliamentary democracy is a more appropriate option.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the political structure of Pakistan, characterized by patronage, feudalism, and dynastic tendencies, is polarized and unstable; a federal parliamentary system is the most suited and viable option to abate the political instability. Indubitably, the state’s societal structure sustains and regulates its political structure. However, a social change perhaps makes the country consider other options, such as the presidential system of government. Now, it is more appropriate to neutralize the radical tendencies prevailing in the provinces, associated with the urge for more share in the power, by decentralization of power. The parliamentary form of government with a federal structure ensures shared government among the federating units while keeping a check on ethnic domination. Hence, this option is the most suited to the country’s political structure.
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