KARACHI: Politicians, intellectuals vow to resist govt moves
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Feb 2: Politicians and intellectuals at a seminar, Democracy In Chains’ lashed out at the present government’s policies and vowed to resist them. They observed that the policies were detrimental to the rights and aspirations of the civil society.
The seminar was organized by the Forum for Democracy at the PMA House here on Saturday. Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, President of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) was chief guest while the Forum’s president, Prof Jamal Naqvi, presided over the seminar.
The speakers said that the new set up emerging from the October 10 elections was a ‘power-sharing’ arrangement and not the revival or restoration of a true democracy. They rejected the ‘under-siege and controlled’ democracy which, they said, was not in the interest of the country and its people. They urged the masses to forge unity, defy the ‘one-man system’ and get rid of it.
The politicians and intellectuals severely criticized the policies, pursued by the government, particularly the foreign policy.
They maintained that the government’s submissive attitude towards the United States was encouraging the Washington and New Delhi in issuing irresponsible statements against Islamabad.
Mr Hashmi said that it was unfortunate to note that army in the country had become a ruling force instead of a serving force. He disputed the notion that “armed forces are the defence line of the country” and said: “Only people and real democracy can defend Pakistan effectively.”
Giving example of the disintegration of the Soviet Union, he observed that it was army which failed to resist aspirations of the masses there.
“One man’s decision can never be accepted correct. Welfare of the people cannot be undertaken by virtue of guns,” he remarked.
Criticizing the government’s full support to the US on every issue, Mr Hashmi said that Washington was using Islamabad as a tool to achieve its goals. “We don’t accept any US interference in our national affairs,” he said and added that the government did not enjoy support from political or other forces in the country.
Prof Naqvi welcomed the start of the process of dialogue between political parties, including the PPP and PML, on national issues of concern. He emphasized that there was no need for imposing any check and balance system for the civil society. Instead, he added, President should have a check on civil authorities. He observed that everyone was turning into as ‘power-broker’. The trend could be checked only when the judiciary was allowed to work freely, he opined.
The Naib Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami, Prof Ghafoor Ahmed, said that sovereignty of the country could not be protected in the absence of democracy. Called for the restoration of 1973 Constitution and independence of parliament, he said that army should be kept away from power.
He said that due to the military rulers’ policies, the US, India and even Italy had been holding Pakistan responsible for the acts of terrorism. He regretted that Islamabad had retracted original policy on Kashmir and consequently Pakistan was now being regarded as a terrorist state. This, he said, proved that the government’s foreign policy had failed.
Prof N. D. Khan of the PPP said that the concept of democracy did not exist in Pakistan and that it was time major political parties and alliances formed a common forum, within and outside the parliament, to revive democracy.
Prof Ghafoor pointed out that despite the lapse of more than two months, the parliament was unable to begin process of legislation and its sessions were being delayed for want of ‘desired results’ in the upcoming Senate elections. He claimed that government was not ready to hold debates on the LFO in the parliament.
He said that the government did not believe in the sovereignty of people, whereas judiciary and the press were also not free.
The JI leader urged people to raise their voice now and pressure the political parties to work for the restoration of democracy.
The noted columnist, Zahida Hina, observed: “Constitution has Ťbeen held hostage while the PM is unable to act on his own. There is no ray of hope for people while the American forces and intelligence agencies are enjoying full support from Islamabad.”
Among others who spoke on the occasion were Advocate Yousuf Leghari, Basharat Mirza of PDP and A. R. Arif, general secretary of the Forum for Democracy.
The seminar was attended by a large number of leaders, activists and supporters of various political parties.
