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"Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few." _George Bernard Shaw . 
 

"No amount of charters, direct primaries, or short ballots will make a democracy out of an illiterate people."_Walter Lippmann (1889–1974), U.S. journalist. A Preface to Politics, ch. 9 (1914)

Democracy does not guarantee good governance, law and order or even prosperity. It is merely a method for the transfer of power which allows maximum participation of the electorate.  The electorate’s choices over a series of elections determine whether good governance and prosperity follow. - Daily Nation, Lahore

Secularism

The first Prime Minister of Pakistan. Liaquat Ali Khan's presented the "Objectives Resolution" that was passed by the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan in 1949. The ideology of Pakistan is embodied in that resolution, which provides for a modern secular democratic government with laws according to Islamic ideals for social justice, freedom and equal rights to minorities as well as provisions for separate personal laws for minorities according to their own religious norms.

Just as Britain is a democracy even though they have had kings and queens, Pakistan is an Islamic state with secular government. It is not a theocracy ruled by Ulema. Pakistan’s judiciary included and even headed by Christian and Hindu judges. Non-Muslims also hold important posts in bureaucracy as well as the military.

Even though UK and US are regarded secular states they have blasphemy laws and some other laws stemming from Christian doctrine. In quite a few European countries denial of Holocaust is a crime. So if we ban alcohol, prostitution, gambling etc. In that way our parliament cannot be regarded as a religious order.

The belief that secular and democratic State is ideal for peace and progress needs to be corrected. Niether Secularism and democracy nor Theocracy or Monarchy or for that matter any other political system can guarantee good governance,law and order or progress and prosperity. Democracy is merely a method for the transfer of power according to popular mandate allowing maximum participation of the electorate. Everything depends upon the character and ability of the leaders elected and their policies and objectives!

Ignorance, illiteracy and poor civic sense among the masses obscure the democratic values and prevent election of the competent candidates. That is why democracy has not been as beneficial in Asia and Muslim countries as it has been in  the West.  

But the West does not owe its progress and prosperity solely to secularism and democracy . It was the attitude of their people towards work, law and order, mutual
cooperation, exploration, education, research and training that has contributed in over all progress in all spheres including sports, literature, leisure besides trade, industry and commerce as well as science and technology. But their material progress has not been without loss of spirituality to some extent and morality to great extent. 

Morality and Freedom

Many lament that in the South Asia that our rulers, politicians and bureaucrats have generally been among the most corrupt ones. Indeed the pace of progress would have been much better and our economic condition would not have been so beleaguered if we were following the principles of honesty and fair play. Corruption is rampant in many other countries. For instance in India tehlika.com rocked the nation by exposing the corruption among the rulers.  Indian movies depict the wide spread corruption in their society  and manipulations in elections so vividly that that makes us to believe that our champion players of the game of corruption are mere novices.

We admire the system of accountability prevalent in the West  specially US and how they impeach their Presidents and other  officials.  Recently the bankruptcy scandals are rocking the US and the world markets. American political experts say that there will be more scandals like this, even more devastating, as many senators, congressmen and some members of the Administration allegedly received favors from the now bankrupt companies. American industrialist William Vanderbilt used to say;

"When I want to buy up any politician I always find the anti-monopolists the most purchasable they don’t come so high."

There is a growing concern about morality in the West. Many blame MTV and popular sex symbols in the entertainment field for distorting and obscuring the social values and promoting obscenity which is prohibited in Islam, Christianity and Jewish faith also. The crime rate in the West is much higher than Islamic States. Despite spending billions on contraceptives, the number of abortions is alarmingly high. 

The ratio of illegitimate births in US has jumped to almost one-third as compared to about 60 % in Scandinavian and some African countries and millions of unwed women become pregnant and resort to abortion. Teenage pregnancy is becoming a great social problem. Few politicians can dare to take stand against the existing moral values toward wine, gays and extra marital affairs.

Generally the Westerners have a distorted view of Islamic values. And they do not realize that the system of governance in the United States, as compared to most of the other countries in the world, is closer to the values of good governance under Islamic ideals. The attitude of Westerners toward pursuit of knowledge, research, their approach to human rights, fair play and justice and various aspects of life conform to the teachings of Islam. But their citizens enjoy more freedom than necessary for a clean and healthy society and they have shunned the values taught by the Holy Prophets Moses and Jesus.  Freedom to drink alcohol, consumption of pork, night clubbing, their outlook toward sex, gays and some of their social values are looked up on with disfavor not only by Muslims but good Samaritans also. These evils are considered to be precursor of more to come.

Continued in Part 2