03 May 2004	Monday	12 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, May 2: Politics in Pakistan has developed a tumour which cannot be removed by administering some medicine or performing cosmetic surgery.

It has to undergo a major surgery aimed at changing the mindset of the oligarchy, and establishing a true democratic order. This was the gist of the speeches delivered by eminent parliamentarians Asfandyar Wali Khan and Dr Farooq Sattar at a seminar held here on Sunday under the aegis of 'Dialogue: Pakistan'.

The seminar was followed by a question-answer session. Two thought-provoking papers were read by Dr Adrian Husain, chairman of the host institution who also presided over the seminar, and Irshad Abdul Kadir on the subject of The Myth of Representation in the Context of Democracy in Pakistan.

Asfandyar Wali Khan, chief of the Awami National Party, traced the history of democracy right from the fall of Dr Khan Sahib's government in the NWFP to the present times, and remarked: "Unfortunately, we have not learnt a lesson from our history and, instead, keep on repeating the same old mistakes."

He defended the 14th and 15th amendments to the Constitution made by the Nawaz Sharif government to repeal article 58 (2)B and disallow floor-crossing by legislators. However, Mr Khan was critical of the 17th amendment, saying that after its adoption, Punjab had virtually become Pakistan.

By giving district governments under the control of the Centre, the status of provincial governments had been reduced to 'post offices' for the GHQ, he remarked. Responding to questioners, he said: "Effects of the new system would not be felt immediately.

Are you going to live your life as per the Punjab's wishes, or as per your on own free will? We want all provinces to live like brothers. What a travesty! the three provinces are named and identified by the culture of their respective people, but the fourth one - the NWFP - by its geographical location. If we demand that the province be named as Pukhtoonistan, were are labelled as traitors."

Mr Khan reiterated his party's stand that federal system was vital for the survival of Pakistan, but it must be set up in letter and spirit. Commenting on judiciary's role, the ANP chief said there was a need for strengthening each and every institution in the country.

In his speech, Dr Farooq Sattar of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement said there were several problems proved root-cause of the ills of the national politics. In this regard, he mentioned concentration of maximum powers in the Centre, perpetual hold of tribalism and feudalism, intolerance and fanaticism in religious forces, etc.

The trends are the reasons why we keep on revisiting the era of Ghulam Muhammad, Ayub Khan and Ziaul Haq. He criticized the opposition for, what he called, "holding the parliament hostage for almost one year over LFO issue' despite the fact that general elections in 2002 were held under the same LFO. He justified his party's decision to join the government by saying that there was no other way to bring stability to the country.

Dr Adrian Husain pointed out that masses were still poor and deprived of the essentials of life as well as a vital infrastructure. He said that the decades of this cycle of de-representation had resulted in the 'devaluation of democracy.'

Mr Irshad Abdul Kadir said that the failure of democracy in Pakistan could be attributed to the failure of civil society in playing a meaningful role. "This failure has, so far, provided us the governments we deserve," he remarked. The guests were welcomed by Abubakr Chundrigar. Ms Khurshid Haider conducted the seminar and Ms Zehra Shahid presented vote of thank.