KARACHI: Parties vow to enhance social sector allocations
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Oct 5: Introducing their manifestos, representatives of various political parties said on Saturday that the budget on education and health would be increased when they formed the government.
They were speaking at the forum on the subject of “Vision of Our Youth for Pakistan” organized jointly by the Karachi Women’s Peace Committee (KWPC) and Karachi University.
The meeting also passed a resolution condemning the harsh action against teachers and students by the law enforcement agency personnel near D. J. College on Friday. The resolution also rejected the recommendations given by the Task Force on Higher Education.
Representatives of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Ammal, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the PPP, the PML (N), the PML (Q) and PTI presented their manifestos at the meeting presided over by former Supreme Court judge, Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid.
The politicians later had to respond to questions, some of which were difficult ones, asked by the participants comprising university students.
Justice Zahid, on the occasion, expressed the hope that the politicians would remember what they had proposed in their manifestos when they went to parliament.
He said that it was the duty of political parties in general and the religious parties in particular to spread the message of tolerance and work against the growing menace of sectarianism. But, he said, very little was being done.
He regretted that the religious parties had not expressed solidarity with the Christian community, seven members of which were killed in a terrorist attack a few days back.
He said that poverty and population growth had a direct relation and the economic health of the country could not improve unless the high population growth was checked. He stressed that family planning was not un-Islamic and it was practised in many Islamic countries.
He said that 60 per cent of child labour was in Asia and over 250 million children in the developing countries were the bread-earners of their families. “A proper planning needs to be done on how these children are to be taken off the jobs, provided education, recreational and other facilities in such a way that their families do not suffer financially,” he said.
KWPC chief Nargis Rehman expressed the hope that politicians would try to implement the manifestos that they had announced. She also urged the people to elect honest and good people.
Nasreen Jalil of the MQM said that her party planned to spend 5 per cent and 4 per cent of the budget on education and health respectively. She said the system of governance needed to be changed, for in the past the MQM was not called to attend over 70 meetings held on the law and order issues despite the fact that it was a partner in the government.
Prof Ghafoor Ahmad of the MMA said that education would be made compulsory up to class eight and it would be given in national and regional languages. Students union activities, without the influence of politics, would be allowed in educational institutions. The syllabus would be Islamized so that students became good Pakistanis.
Ejaz Shafi said the PML (N) planned to introduce a law through which compensation would be given to the affected for any damage caused to them by government functionaries.
He said the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) had grabbed over 700 acres of the KPT land, unless that was returned no kutcha abadis would be uprooted.
Arif Alvi of the PTI said that unfortunately the political parties were in the habit of forgetting the promises made in their mainfestos after coming to power. He added that unless the politicians implemented their manifesto, they were mere pieces of paper.
Wajid Jawad of the PML (Q) said that his party would increase the budget for education and health and hopefully there would be 100 per cent literacy in about 10 years.
Taj Haider of the PPP said that his party would improve the law and order situation, and increase budget for health and education.
Syed Munawar Hassan of the Jamat-i-Islami said that since there was no accountability, corruption had increased. He urged the people to elect an honest leadership which would govern honestly, so that society would become honest.
Responding to the a question regarding how the parties would work with President Pervaiz Musharraf after they formed the government, Ejaz Shafi (PML N) said that the matter would be dealt with in accordance with the relevant constitutional articles, Taj Haider (PPP) said that a truth and reconciliation commission (on the pattern of the one in South Africa) would be formed.
Regarding the powers of National Security Council (NSC), Wajid Jawad of PML (Q) said the NSC which could overrule the parliament would not be accepted. However, a forum was necessary for coordination where sensitive issues could be discussed and consensus achieved. “But it should not dictate to the parliament.
Prof Fateh Burfat, Shahzad Iqbal, Khalid A. Shaikh, Mohammad Amir, Munawar Awan, Fatima Ahmad, Masood Ahmad, Tahir A. Khan, Mazhar Ahmad, Lateef Hassan, Amtul Lateef, Muna Mir, Naureen Kauser, Ajmal Mir, Aamir Shah, Adeel akhtar and others also spoke on the occasion.
