08 March 2005	Tuesday	26 Muharram 1426

ISLAMABAD, March 7: The People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) has asked the world, particularly the European countries, to support the efforts of the people of Pakistan for establishing a genuine democracy in the country.

This was stated by PPP MPA from Punjab and head of the party's Central Information Bureau Farzana Raja while briefing the reporters after a meeting of the party office-bearers with a delegation of the Social Democratic Party of Sweden here on Monday.

The visiting members of the Swedish ruling party were also present at the briefing. "We want support from west, particularly from Sweden, where people have been enjoying democracy for the past 84 years," she said.

Ms Raja said the PPP leaders had apprised the Swedish team that democratic institutions were not strong and independent in Pakistan due to frequent military interventions.

She said the visitors had also been told about the functioning of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) which, she alleged, had been formed only to victimise the political opponents.

Ms Raja said the visitors had asked several questions regarding the role of army in the political affairs and women issues. She said the members of the Sweden Democratic Party had expressed serious concern over the rise in the incidents of honour killing.

Ms Raja said despite the fact that there was an article in the Constitution suggesting death penalty for traitors but it had so far failed to prevent military take-overs.

She said the members of the Sweden's ruling party told the PPP leaders that they had control the army generals by diverting the major defence budget towards the social sector.