Democratization of a country can be an ultimate goal and Democracy is a precondition to achieve this. A country which had 32 years of dictatorships and 30 years of dynastic rule has not let the democracy grow in its true spirit and have crippled all the democratic institutions. Pakistan had three constitutions in its history first in 1953, second in 1962 and third in 1973. Pakistan has fought three wars with India, and unfortunately in 1971 East Pakistan was separated. So, democracy did not materlize since its creation in 1947.

In Pakistan’s history three dictators brought their own definition of democracy. Ayub khan (1958-1971) exploited people under the name of basic democracy, Zia ul Haq (1977-1988) through referendum brought the religious democracy, and Musharraf (1999-2008) announced his sham democracy under the garb of enlightened moderation.

Under the civilian rule democracy has been exploited through a client patronage system. The charismatic leaders used people and monopolized politics and rights. Sometimes the socialist’s slogan of Roti kapra and Mukan (Food, shelter, and clothing) was used; sometimes the nuclear bomb and Kargil issues were glorified. The elected governments also backed the clergy and feudal lords, all in the name of people and their rights. There have not been any land reforms, the parallel judicial system and continuous amendments in the constitutions have made mockery of the Democracy. The article 25 of the constitution of Pakistan guarantees basic fundamental rights of the human being but in reality the minorities, women and other marginalized groups have never got their rights.

Pakistan at the moment is having one crisis after another. The governance issue is high on the priority. There is a conflict between the federation and the provinces, being the parliamentary form of government presidents still holds power which should be with the parliament. The Taliban’s and the militant issues, the war in the Swat and the tribal areas energy crisis and crippled economy is taking us closer to the failed state.

Democratization has been the most important theme for the work of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Pakistan. Over the last decade we had taken various initiatives taken specifically on political participation of women and on their capacity building even in the tribal areas of Pakistan. Various women parliamentarians at different levels were participating in the workshops and debates conducted by our partners. We even engaged the clerics as part of the strategy and build their alliances with other civil society actors. Through our partners we have tried to raise the issues of legal pluralisms and conducted various para-legal trainings. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Pakistan has also organized various symposiums and seminars and raised issues of citizenship, legal pluralisms decentralization, provincial autonomy and on rule of law. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Pakistan aims to continue contributing towards democratization by contesting fundamentalisms, and gender based discrimination, and by strengthening political participation and the rule of law.

In particular we aim

• To create awareness on human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
• To promote political participation of women. 
• To strengthen the alliances between parliamentarians, civil society and other intellectuals to enhance the political arena.
• To build research in order to identify and counter fundamentalisms.
• To initiate and support debate, and dialogue amongst the law makers, decision makers clerics, and NGOs on discriminatory laws on women.