09 November 2004	Tuesday	25 Ramazan 1425

KARACHI, Nov 8: Rejecting the 17th constitutional amendment and the 'president in uniform', as well as the Act pertaining to the National Security Council, opposition leaders, jurists, labour leaders and intellectuals at a seminar here on Sunday night described them an infringement on parliamentary democracy, federalism and sovereignty of people.

Their views were spelt out in the resolutions adopted unanimously at the seminar, held after an Iftar party hosted by senior politician Mairaj Mohammad Khan, during which the increasing role of army in politics and inappropriate role of higher judiciary came under severe criticizm.

The meeting was of the view that all this was against the very spirit of the 1973 Constitution as a serving military officer could not become president as it constituted a violation of the oath taken by every officer under the Constitution.

It also condemned the Sindh government's proposal of legalizing the jirga system, and vowed to oppose any such move through an ordinance or legislation because it would strengthen the anti-people feudal system and legally protect the evils like karo-kari.

The meeting also demanded immediate withdrawal of the Industrial Relations Ordnance-2002, terming it a 'black law' which harmed the interests of the working class. It demanded that the rights of trade unions be restored and the Essential Services Act, imposed on certain organizations, be withdrawn.

The seminar also rejected the approach aimed at dividing Kashmir into many parts and demanded that the governments of Pakistan and India must recognize the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination so that they could determine their own future.

The resolutions strongly condemned the US invasion and occupation of Iraq and genocide in that country to implement US expansionist designs. They commended the valiant struggle by the Iraqi people in resisting the imperialist super power in every nook and corner of their country. They demanded immediate withdrawal of US-led forces from both Afghanistan and Iraq.

The seminar expressed deep sorrow at the illness and declining health of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and prayed for his early recovery. It appealed to the Palestinian people to maintain unity at this difficult time and remain steadfast in resisting Israeli aggression.

It also expressed grief over the demise of Mian Mohammed Sharif and condemned the denial by the Musharraf government of permission to the former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif, his brother Shahbaz Sharif and Begum Kulsoom Nawaz to attend the funeral rites of the deceased in in Pakistan. They described the government's attitude as a negation of basic human rights, relevant law and all moral considerations.

The seminar demanded unconditional release of Asif Ali Zardari, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Yousuf Raza Gilani and all other political leaders and activists.