June 24, 2006	Saturday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 27, 1427

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QUETTA, June 23: There was no need to replace the 1973 Constitution as it was a consensus document that provided solution to all constitutional, economic, social and legal crises and people calling for a new constitution were not loyal with the country.

This was said by General Secretary of the Pakistan People’s Party Sindh Nafis Ahmed Sadiq while speaking at a news conference here on Friday. He was accompanied by Jamal Khan Jogezai.

Stressing the need to restore the 1973 Constitution, the PPP leader said that it should be restored in its original form, untainted by undemocratic and illegal amendments, adding that it guaranteed protection of rights of people of all provinces.

“The people calling for framing of a new constitution were not friends of Pakistan,” Mr Sadiq said, adding that his party would repeal all constitutional amendments made after 1999.

Questioning the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, he said that the country was heading towards a disaster because of injustice.

He said that his party believed that the holding of a free, fair and transparent election under an independent election commission and handing over of power to true elected representatives of the people was the only solution to bring the country out of the current crisis. He said that all federating units should be granted complete provincial autonomy that had been promised in the 1973 Constitution.

“Pakistan cannot become a stable country unless provinces’ rights are recognised and they are accorded autonomy,” said Mr Sadiq.

Referring to the Balochistan situation, the PPP leader opposed the military operation and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, saying it would pave the way for holding negotiations to resolve the issue.

He said that injustice and denial of legitimate rights of the province had created a sense of deprivation among the people of Balochistan.

“Frustration and denial of legitimate rights have forced the people (in Balochistan) to (take up weapons) and go (into hiding) in mountains,” the PPP leader said. He said that if the rulers did not recognise the people’s due rights, the situation could deteriorate.

The government, he said, should immediately initiate a dialogue on the Balochistan issue with the political leadership concerned.

Referring to the ‘London accord for democracy’, he said that the PPP and the PML-N had committed many mistakes in the past, but now leaders of both the popular parties had decided to wage a joint struggle for restoration of true democracy and democratic culture in the country.