Democracy is not a god-ordained political system that can magically deliver a utopian state out of a developing country on the front-lines of a global war.
In all likelihood, many if not all of the problems faced by Pakistanis until the eve of May 10, will still remain; though hopefully in a less dismal state, a few months or even years from now.
But the thing about democracy is its innate self-cleansing nature. Even before the people head to the polls, the internal structures of political parties in the country are already changing; if not by desire then through necessity.
The Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf has vociferously marketed the fact that more than half of its candidates in the 2013 General Elections are new candidates. But it is not the only party to field a significant number of newbies that are not from established political families.
In about one-third of the constituencies where it is contesting, the Pakistan Peoples’ Party will also be represented by individuals who have not served in public office before, and are also not related to any political elite.
Many of the bigwigs that had been affiliated with that party, have made a bee-line for the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) or other parties that they believe stand better chances within their own constituencies. Others have left because they think that the incumbents’ badge is more baggage than boon.
Whatever the reasons for this exodus may be, it has translated into a situation where an established political party such as the PPP as well as the relatively untested PTI, are introducing a number of new options for the electorate.
One party that has always stood apart in this realm is the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) as it has regularly fielded new candidates from among party workers and sympathizers.
Some of these new candidates will prevail over the political Goliaths of their respective constituencies. Many others will be quashed by the political elite.
But this catharsis within the parties has already introduced dozens of new politicians to the public as viable options over the old yoke. This self-renewing nature of democracy is its real virtue; one that has already begun to bear fruit in Pakistan.
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