KARACHI, Feb 27: Speakers at a seminar on National Reconciliation: Need of the Hour were unanimous in their opinion that national issues could only be addressed through fair and equitable distribution of resources
among provinces and this, in effect, could pave way for national reconciliation.
In the prevailing scenario, there seemed no concept of national reconciliation whereas polarization and inequality in all social strata did prevail, they noted. The seminar was organized by the Dialogue: Pakistan here on Sunday at a local hotel.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice (r) Wajihuddin Ahmed said that during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, General Zia had been chosen by the United States to serve its interests. "The general had toppled his own benefactor, and this time, a new figure has been chosen," he remarked.
He observed that since some Baloch chieftains had held hours-long meeting with the US consul general in Karachi, things had cooled down a bit. He was of the opinion that establishing cantonments beyond a limit would not do any good.
Makhdoom Khaliquzaman pointed out projects that could benefit the people of Sindh, including upgrading Ketibandar to a modern port, creation of economic zones and better utilization of the Thar Coal project.
He said that the Greater Thal Canal was being constructed to ensure a smooth supply of adequate water only for the lands owned by army. Referring to the Sui rape incident, he pointed out that while the case was still under investigation, the accused Captain Hammad had been pronounced 'innocent' by Gen Pervez Musharraf because, according to him, the accused happened to be a son of an army officer and the general's close friend.
He regretted that no lesson had been learnt from the East Pakistan debacle, rather, it had totally been forgotten. MNA Dr Farida Ahmed observed that supremacy of the law had been set aside and rulers, unfortunately, had resorted to amending the constitution to prolong their rule.
Referring to the poor socio-economic conditions prevailing in the country, the MNA said that 105 incidents of suicide had taken place only in Haripur area. "On the other hand, there is an army of ministers and secretaries enjoying life at the expanse of the tax-payers money."
Citing the instance of the India, she pointed out that it had 28 provinces but only 60 ministers. She attributed the country's economic-ills to the (policies of) IMF and World Bank.
She called for the holding of an all-party conference immediately to sort out all issues, ensuring supremacy of the constitution and an independent judiciary, provision of free primary and secondary education and finding an early solution through political dialogue to the issues pertaining to Balochistan. Others who spoke on the occasion were Irshad Abdul Kadir and Dr Adrian A. Husain, chairman of the Dialogue: Pakistan.
