NEW YORK Aug 27: Calling on the Pakistan armed forces to disengage itself from the body politics of Pakistan and allow democracy to function unfettered, speakers at an event held here to mark Pakistan’s independence day on Saturday said Pakistan must become a democracy where rule of law is a fundamental feature.
The event was organised by the Pakistan League of America.
“We need a genuine democracy in the country not a controlled democratic system of the uniform by the uniform for the uniform,” said Senator Akbar Khawaja in his speech. He said that uniform and democracy did not mix and there was a need for a genuine democratic system in the country.
Hussain Haqqan, former adviser to two Pakistani prime ministers, who was the keynote speaker, deplored the rise of sectarianism and extremism in the country which did not even exit at the time of its establishment. He urged Pakistani people to work together and try and build a moderate and tolerant society.
Mr Haqqani laid out a number of proposals aimed at strengthening national unity which, in turn, would improve the country’s image. “Our people should now on learn to tolerate each other’s point of view which is the key to promoting political and democratic culture,” he said.
Taking issue with the speakers, Pakistan’s Consul General Haroon Shaukat maintained that democracy was fully functioning in Pakistan. Parliament was working and the press had never been so free in the country’s history as it was now. Moreover, Pakistan had made tremendous progress under the present government. The high growth rate coupled with massive development projects, especially in the under-developed areas of the country, and the rising foreign investment were testimony to the fact.
Ambassador Shireen Tahir-Kheli, currently senior adviser to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on women’s empowerment, spoke about the United States’ role in improving the status of women around the world to which President George W. Bush and Secretary Rice were committed.
The Quaid i Azam Award went to Shireen Tahir-Kheli, an academic who rose to the rank of an ambassador and served the United States Mission to the United Nations in the 80’s. She was also on the US National Security Council during the Reagan administration.
She said her father, late Dr Raziuddin Siddiqi, one of Pakistan’s prominent scientists, would have been proud to see her receive this award. She said she was delighted to receive the award named after the founder of Pakistan who believed in tolerance, moderation and equality
Four people were awarded on Saturday night: Hakim Saeed Award went to Dr Pervez Malik; Allama Iqbal Award to Dr Tippu Siddiq; Dr Abus Salam Award to Dr Hina Chaudhry; and the Pakistan Award to Pakistan’s popular Consul General in New York, Haroon Shaukat.
