13 June 2004	Sunday	24 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

ISLAMABAD, June 12: Iraqis have taken a sigh of relief with the ouster of the Saddam regime, but they will not tolerate the long stay of allied forces in their country, hence Iraqi governing council should be given a chance to develop the war- ravaged country.

This was the consensus reached among the academicians from various universities of Iraq, while speaking at a special seminar on "Iraq: Before and After Saddam", organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute here on Friday.

Dr Abdul Samad, dean of the College of Education at the University of Basra, said: "After the occupation of Iraq, though we have lost our whole educational infrastructure, including libraries, laboratories and other research-oriented projects and schemes going on previously, one thing we have got out of this occupation is the freedom from a dictatorial regime."

He said during Saddam regime, people were leading their lives under a strict policy of dictatorship and did not enjoy the freedom of expression. But things have changed now and "we are looking forward to something positive out of the present interim government in Iraq," he added.

Dr Samad said: "We are seeking financial assistance from our Muslim brethren all over the world to rebuild our educational institutions."

Dr Najat Al Salah, Department of History at the University of Basra, emphasized that the present interim government should be given a chance to work for the country's development. Referring to the previous regime, she said: "Saddam put everybody in prison." It was Saddam who let the US and British forces occupy Iraq.

She also asked Muslims and other philanthropist organizations to work for the development of Iraq with special reference to the betterment of education sector.

Dr Maha Al Sakhban, an Iraqi national who did her MBBS from Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore, said before coming to Pakistan, "we had the impression in our minds that we will not be able to talk at such an open forum on account of the presence of some Al Qaida extremists around and also because of the incidents going on in Karachi, Waziristan and Gawadar, but the things are not so in reality".

Responding to a question asked by one of the participants regarding the role of the media in Iraq, Dr Sakhban said the media was enjoying more freedom now than it was before. However, still there are two faces of the media - one projecting the image of devastation and disaster only, while other giving the reality in both the positive and negative aspects.

Replying to a question regarding the incidents of Abu Ghraib prison and the role of Iraqi civil society organizations, speakers said the issue was more political than a reality. No civil society could get its roots during Saddam's regime in real words. But now, there is a voice from the civil society, free of the dictator's aspirations, they said.