May 17, 2007	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 29, 1428

ISLAMABAD, May 16: The Dialogue Group on Civil-Military Relations has called for parliamentary polls in the country before the next presidential elections to ensure a transition to true democracy.

The group, which met here on Wednesday, focussed on developments that are likely in the next few months and which are expected to be extremely significant for Pakistan. The group observed that the offices of the ‘president’ of the country and the ‘chief of the army staff’ represent separate institutional functions of the state and should not be held by any one person.

In a joint statement, issued at the conclusion of the meeting, the members of the group stressed that the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) be made only after meaningful consultations with leaders of all political parties represented in the Parliament.

The empowerment of the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commission of Pakistan was essential for holding of transparent elections, which are not only held, but are also perceived by the people to be free, fair and transparent.

For this purpose, it was necessary for the district administrations to be placed under the effective control of the Chief Election Commissioner during the next elections.

The group said elections should be held only under a neutral and impartial caretaker government with full authority, both at the centre and in the provinces, constituted after meaningful consultation with the leaders of all political parties represented in the Parliament.

The group also deliberated upon the situation arising from the presidential reference against the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the latter’s ‘suspension’ from office, the petitions filed in the Supreme Judicial Council and the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the latest developments.

After a comprehensive review of the legal, judicial and broader political and national dimensions of the situation, arising from the ‘suspension’ of the Chief Justice, the group concluded that the manner in which the Chief Justice was treated was most inappropriate and unacceptable by all norms of civilised conduct.

In its deliberations, the group referred to the letter which it had addressed 10 months ago —on July 08, 2006— to the president, the prime minister and the leaders of all political parties represented in Parliament in which, amongst other issues, the group had made two observations that are particularly relevant in the context of today’s crisis.

The letter said, “Besides being a constitutional office, the office of (the) President of Pakistan is also a political office. Combining the Presidency with the office of Chief of Army Staff politicises the latter post as well as the Army.” And that “democracy can only be authentic when there is real separation of powers and when all institutions of the State abide by the roles assigned to them by the constitution.”

The group further concluded that in view of the pendency of this important issue before the full Supreme Court, it is incumbent on everyone to exercise due restraint and to await the final judgment of the court.

Even though the case is of fundamental relevance and importance to the political structure and to political discourse, the court should be enabled to complete its deliberations, without being subject to any overt or covert attempts to influence its proceedings.

The members who endorsed the statement included: Lt-Gen (retired) Abdul Qadir Baloch, former governor of Balochistan, former corps commander Quetta; Lt-Gen (retired) Asad Durrani, former director general, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI); Dr Hasan-Askari Rizvi, defence and political analyst; Javed Jabbar, former senator and former federal minister for information and media development; Lt-Gen (retired) Moinuddin Haider, former governor of Sindh, Mujibur Rehman Shami, editor-in-chief of Daily Pakistan and former president of CPNE; Dr Parvez Hassan, lawyer; Shafqat Mahmood, former senator and provincial minister, Brig (retired) Shaukat Qadir, former vice president, Islamabad Policy Research Institute; Lt-Gen (retired) Talat Masood, former federal secretary and political and security analyst; Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, executive director, and Aasiya Riaz, joint director of Pildat (Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency).

The Dialogue Group on Civil-Military Relations is facilitated by Pildat, an independent organisation committed to the strengthening democracy and democratic institutions in Pakistan.

The group was constituted in September 2004. It has been holding consultations with the aim to address the issues which impact the civil-military relations, which are at the heart of the issues relating to the democratisation of and long-term stability and progress in the country. The group includes civil personalities and former military officers who have served in prominent positions.