February 3, 2006	Friday	Muharram 4, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 2: Federalism in Pakistan could be saved only through provincial autonomy, supremacy of parliament, Constitution and a democratic system that strengthen the civil society and rule of the masses.

This was the near consensus point of a seminar on “Re- examining federalism in Pakistan” organized by Liberal Forum Pakistan in collaboration with Friedrich Naumann Stiftung (FNS) here on Thursday.

Politicians on the occasion expressed their fear about the eroding structure of civil society in the country and the constant weakening of political institutions that were never allowed to grow under the shade of a powerful military, which ruled the country for over half a century.

Former chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Awami National Party leader Afrasiab Khattak said federalism could not attain its objective until real democracy was restored in the country.

“Pakistan has been converted into a banana republic and there is no rule of law. Federalism means protection of human rights and civil liberty, which are instinct in Pakistan,” Mr Khattak noted.

Senator Sanaullah Baloch of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) said there was no federalism or parliamentary form of government in Pakistan. He said the military controlled the country by suffocating democratic values and violating the norms of civil society.

He said there were four main factors which harmed the federation: no or very little devolution of powers, lack of equity and impartiality, weak institutions including parliament and judiciary and no flexibility in the federation.

“There is only one strong institution left in Pakistan and that is the army. Even the military generals admit that only army as an institution has survived in Pakistan,” he observed.

He said the provinces or federating units were just administrative units established on behalf of the central government.

Abid Ali Umang, a Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MNA, said unless fair and transparent distribution of resources was not ensured the sense of deprivation among the federating units would prevail and keep growing.

He said royalty for gas was being paid to Sardars (tribal chiefs) in Balochistan not to the people of the province. He stressed the need for the formation of a forum where major issues could be debated freely.

Syed Zafar Ali Shah of the PML-N said federalism in Pakistan was not being allowed to function. At present an armed individual is at war with the Constitution, he added. Political parties, he said, also remained dishonest with the Constitution as they were responsible for facilitating the 17th amendments.

Mir Hasil Khan Bazinjo of National Party said in the absence of democracy the country was being ruled by the law of the jungle.

Peter Andreas Bochmann, the resident representative of FNS, said the panel discussion on federalism would create mutual understanding among political parties to resolve the issue.