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Show 18 President Ayub promised on taking power that it was the new regime's aim to restore democracy but that it had to be sui ted to the genius of the people. takeovers are Such promises by the leaders of military common-place and generally are not President kept. Ayub surprised his oritics by announcing on October 26, 1959 a new insti tutional system--The Basic Democracies--that was the first step in the restoration of democracy. .apontaneoue way, cant "It was and was made from liberal, strength. was At the ,,35 public pressure for any change existed. system which the President felt was election of thousand 80,000 "Basic Democrats," i.e., people. known to the one time, It is a no a signifi grass roots genius of the "suited to the people" of whom over 80 per cent are illiterate. in progressive provided for the It for The cdidates for Basic Democrat roughly are well every enough people that they can identify with them and thus vote intelligently and not be misled by demagogues and/or unethical poli- 80,000 Basic Democrats form the lowest tier of the ticians. These political structure and constitute in addition the electoral college for the president, national assembly and provincial assemblies. "The structure of the Basic Democracies has four tiers. the village are 1) At levei are Union CouncilsJ 2) at the sub-district level Thana Councils in East Pakistan and Tahsil Councils in West Pakistan; 3) at the district level are District councils, and 4) at the top are Division Counoils. Small towns have Town municipalities have Union Committees Council, Committees or .. 36 in the first Town Committees tion unit of ten thousand bers--the Basic Democrats, Committees, tier. a.nd The Union represents an average popula- people and are composed of ten elected mem- |
