After Taliban’s regime was toppled, Afghanistan was put on the way to democracy, the established and wide practiced system of government. Subsequently, the mode of government altered was but not the fate of the people. The installment of democracy devoid of its fundamental requisites left the people suffer at the hand of nonconforming elements, insurgents and terrorists who today seem to have grown mightier than previous.
The completion of two democratic terms and slight betterment in women rights and a small degree of freedom, of course, count the successes of the democratic government. The underlined fault remains with a delayed understanding of preferential type, which can be understood after having understood the elongated concerns and grievances of people in general and ruling elite in particular.
In a democracy, human rights are promoted and protected so that we all, without any discrimination of race, gender, personal belief or style of life, can participate in formulating the laws and policies to which we are subject. These human rights include the right to express freely, to associate freely with others, and to choose one’s representative in free and fair elections. In the first round of the ongoing election Independent Election Commission did play a prominent role, keeping irregularities too minimum. The masses, undoubtedly, expect a high degree of transparency in the second round of runoff.
It ascertains people’s participation and active role in political and civic life. One expresses his will through regular free and fair elections. Voting in a democracy must be universal, equal and secret so that each individual can choose representative of his choice freely. Education and vibrant communications media are vital to be able to make an informed choice. But the role of masses as active citizens don’t end after they cast their ballots; they must be continually engaged in public affairs so that the government can be aware of and respond to our needs.
The Afghan population currently has few means of expressing dissent regarding policies carried out by the international community and the central government, which operates on a highly centralized patronage model in which power and resources are channeled through personal and political allies. The system lacks the connection, rules, and checks and balances necessary to make leaders truly accountable to the domestic population, which invites corruption, rent-seeking, and a hemorrhaging of domestic legitimacy.
Incorporating the promotion of equality and dignity through the system of equal value for the vote of all individuals regardless of their sex, religion, language, economic or social status in democracy ensures political justice, which is the foundation of social and economic justice, dignity of the individual and national cohesion.