KARACHI, Dec 9: National Workers Party President Abid Hasan Manto has called upon the people to play their role in ushering a revolution in the country through the parliamentary system.
Mr Manto, who was the guest speaker at the “Meet the Press” programme of the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday, recalled that it were the people who brought about revolutions in different countries.
He said the people could strengthen the parliamentary system by becoming the part of a party close to their ideals.
“If they like they can form their own party, mobilize other people to launch a movement to reject those civilian forces who are a party to the army in maintaining class structure and send real representatives to parliament”, maintained Mr Manto.
He observed that problems of the people could not be solved without a massive movement.
“Until the people become a part of the movement, neither their problems can be solved nor the country can take off”, he added.
Replying to a question, he said the water issue was not only the issue of Pakistan but of the world as with the increasing population, water resources were reducing.
In Pakistan, he said, which province could be more aware of the issue than Sindh which in the recent drought had badly suffered.
He said the issue could be resolved through conferences of experts, people’s representatives and participation of political parties. Besides, parliamentarians should raise the issue in the National Assembly, he further said.
Answering another question, he said in East Punjab, the Indian government had made power supply to tube-wells free to growers as a subsidy which increased per acre yield of the country to that of China.
The NWP chief said the US was providing a $3 billion subsidy to its farmers but it was urging developing countries to withdraw subsidy on every item.
He said the issue was raised by 22 countries, including Pakistan, at the World Trade Organization moot in Cancun, Mexico.
“There is an outcry through out the world against globalization, WTO and IMF policies”, he said.
He pointed out that developing countries were facing problems of poverty and low literacy rate but the governments were being asked by the IMF and the WB to privatize social services.
Mr Manto said if there was no role left for a state to set up industries and make self-sustained economy, the closed 4,000 industrial units could not be made operational.
Referring to the Legal Framework Order, he said his party believed in the rule of the people and independence of parliament.
He said the NWP would not accept any thing contrary to the supremacy of the 1973 Constitution and would support a process aimed at strengthening the democratic system.
Replying to another question, he said after the Sept 11 incident, there had been a big change in policies.
He referred to the report of removal of Ghauri missiles erected at a vintage point in Islamabad in the wake of the Saarc conference and said there was also a demand to remove a model of the hill where nuclear tests were carried out.
