LAHORE, Jan 11: Secretaries General of the PPP and the PML-N, Jehangir Badar and Iqbal Zafar Jhagra respectively, have underlined the need for a democratic system before undertaking journey to enlightened moderation.

Addressing a seminar, Mr Badar said enlightened moderation meant a fight against status quo. He said the country could not enter the new century unless people were given their due rights.

He said there was a time when it was believed that the military governments promoted economic prosperity, but the concept was belied by what happened in the 90s. In the 90s, he said, it was established across the world that democracy was the best system which gave the people their due rights and combated all menaces.

The PPP leader said all religions and systems talked of social, economic and legal justice and due rights to the people. In his opinion no system could flourish unless the people were given all rights.

Mr Badar said terrorism and sectarianism would be uprooted with a democratic system in place in Pakistan. He said the PPP was working for the rights of people and it was taking even minorities along.

He said the PPP's support for the system of joint electorates manifested the importance the party gave to the minorities. He said the PPP would continue its struggle to give the people food, clothing and shelter.

PML-N Secretary General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said enlightened moderation would remain a dream as long as a military government was in place in Pakistan. He said a society which practised enlightened moderation was always a citadel of peace and in Pakistan peaceful conditions were not seen because there was no enlightened moderation.

He said all political forces would have to make concerted efforts to restore democratic order. It was encouraging, he said, that all parties were opposed to dictatorship.

Mr Jhagra said a law should be enacted to make it obligatory that all parties would play their role to strengthen democracy. He proposed that all parties should also pledge to join hands whenever dictatorship challenged democracy.

The PML-N leader reiterated that the parliament was not complete in its composition as a president was yet to be elected. He demanded that election should be held for a new head of state. The seminar was oragnized by Mr Muhammad Mehdi, who has recently joined the PML-N.