South Asian politicians' quest for absolute authority.

hat is currently common to ruling leaders in major South Asian nations - Bangladesh, India and Pakistan in particular? Arbitrariness, the propensity to flout democratic norms, disregard social norms and muzzle opposition (political as well as civil society including the press). There is an insatiable quest for authority and desire to trump the opposition - whether in India or here in Pakistan.

Even a well-placed majority government in the largest democracy - India - resorts to Presidential Ordinances when it feels threatened or wants to assert itself over rivals even when it amounts to trumping the Supreme Court. In a case relating to powers of the central and New Delhi's government the Supreme Court had recently ruled that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government has the control over bureaucrats assigned to departments under its purview. But the central government responded (May 19) with an ordinance that restores to it the power over 'services' in the National Capital Territory. The ordinance also strengthened the position of the lieutenant governor, making him the final authority who can act in their 'sole discretion' in deciding the matters relating to transfer and posting of bureaucrats.

'The central government brought an ordinance late last night to kill democracy and the Constitution... [They brought it] in the dark of night at 11pm after the Supreme Court went on summer vacation. Even they (Centre) know that the ordinance is unconstitutional, and the SC will strike it down,' said Atishi Marlena, Delhi's education minister.

'Delhi is such a small territory. The government of Delhi already has limited powers because it does not control land, police and public order. But Modi ji tries to curtail even the limited powers of the Delhi government through unconstitutional and illegal means which means that he is afraid of Kejriwal,' said Atishi.

At a press conference on May 19, Chief Minister Arvind Kejrival said the Centre doesn't obey the court and it doesn't care about the constitution or the laws of the country and that is why it brought the Ordinance.

BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana slammed the Delhi government over its claims. 'We all should understand why this ordinance was brought. Arvind Kejriwal does corruption and if an officer stops him, the officer will be beaten up. The lock of an officer's room was broken at 2am and documents were photocopied to destroy evidence. Officers were intimidated and threatened that their...