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| September 25, 2005 | Sunday | Sha'aban 20, 1426 |
Decline in democracy linked to martial laws
QUETTA, Sept 24: Continuous periods of martial law and military rule did not allow democracy and democratic culture to flourish in Pakistan and prevented the nation from producing trained and committed political workers, the real asset of any political party.
Leaders and workers of different political parties observed this at the concluding session of the first phase of a “Political Party Democratic Programme”. The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs organized the event on Saturday in collaboration with the Centre for Civic Education Pakistan.
The leaders of various political parties agreed that due to various reasons, political parties were facing lack of devoted, committed and trained political workers.
“Political parties should make proper arrangements to train their party workers to help them play a vital role in politics,” leaders of different political parties said.
Peter M. Manikas, the regional director of the Institute for Asia Programmes, speaking as chief guest said strong political parties and well-trained cadre of committed political workers were vital to stable and prosperous Pakistan.
He appreciated the work done by political activists for completion of their party projects. He expressed the hope that participants of workshops would make full use of the training they gained at the NDI and CCE workshops for the betterment of their parties.
National Party president Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch said repeated military intervention and rule of undemocratic forces had destroyed the structure of political parties in Pakistan.
Undemocratic forces did not give the political parties space and time for training of their members and workers. He paid tribute to the struggle of political workers against military dictatorship in the country. “I salute political activists who gave numerous sacrifices for democracy in the country,” he added.
The vice-chairman of the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, Abdur Rahim Mandokhel, urged political activists to work for the restoration of democracy and supremacy of parliament.
He said that despite repeated and long military dictatorship in Pakistan, the people had confidence in political parties.
He said continuity of the democratic process was essential for political stability and prosperity of a country.
Giving example of India, he said the continuity of democratic process was the strength of India. Today India was far ahead of Pakistan in every field, he added. He said it was the responsibility of the political parties to train their members for brining positive changes in the present political environment.
Jamhoori Watan Party information secretary Sohail Ahmad Rajput said political activists were like a backbone to a political party. He said committed and trained members made a party popular.
Leaders of some political parties, he said, were living in exile, but their committed activists are working hard for the betterment of their parties.
A leader of the JUI-F, Syed Kamal Shah, said committed and talented political workers had not been given their due place in parties.
He was of the view that politics had become the game of the rich and influential people who always got benefits from the party on the bases of money and their status in society.
“Party leaders, irrespective of the ideological divide, promoted only rich people in the party politics at the expense of committed party members,” he said.
Provincial PPP secretary information Syed Saadullah Shah said the history of the PPP was full of sacrifices of party workers and its leadership. “Party’s founder chairman Z. A Bhutto sacrificed his life but did not compromise with military dictator,” he said and added that his family members, including the wife, daughter and sons had also rendered great sacrifices for the restoration of democracy and rule of the people.
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