May 28, 2007	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1428

LAHORE, May 27: Speakers at a seminar on `Political and Social Crisis in Pakistan’ were of the view that it could be resolved only by ending army’s intervention in civilian affairs.

Awami National Party Secretary General Ehsan Wyne said that the feudal lords and bureaucracy had captured power soon after the creation of Pakistan and they were later joined by the army and mullahs. He alleged that the army not only strengthened religious extremists but it also formed organisations like the Muttahida Qaumi Movement to perpetuate its rule.

He said democratic institutions could not flourish due to repeated interventions by armed forces and the people had been deprived of their rights.

He said the minorities were being victimised and discriminatory laws promulgated against them. Even the places of worship had become unsafe due to religious fanaticism and sectarianism, he added.

He said the people should join hands to put an end to the army rule and tell the ruling classes that they wanted peace in the region.

Labour Party Pakistan Secretary General Farooq Tariq said army rule had become a major socio-political issue of the country because it was depriving other sections of society of their share in resources. The armed forces were in possession of 11.56 million acres of land directly, while 70,000 acres were in control of military organisations. Another 6.8 million acres were owned by military personnel and 2.3 million acre had been allotted to them, he claimed.

The army, he alleged, was also continuing `unauthorised’ possession of military farms lands in Lahore and Okara even years after the expiry of the leases.

He said the lawyers’ campaign for the restoration of the rule of law had won support of all sections of society because people were tired of military rule. The minorities were also being victimised by promulgation of discriminatory laws, he added.

Pakistan Peoples Party, Punjab, Secretary General Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas said the present system of government was designed to facilitate loot and plunder. All the resources were being squandered on the luxuries of the ruling class and the people were deprived of their basic requirements.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan representative Mahboob Khan said the armed forces had not only dominated the politics but were also controlling the economy. The people had lost confidence in politics because the rulers gave them no importance, he added.

Sharjeel Ahmed of South Asia Partnership said the Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah promised equal opportunities for all citizens irrespective of their religious belief but his successors started discriminating against the minorities.

Pakistan Seraiki Party Vice Chairman Hassan Raza Khan said the army was building cantonments in Balochistan for controlling its resources on the pretext of development.

Sindh Awami Tehreek representative Qadir Ranto said that Sindh had been handed over to a fascist organisation. Restrictions imposed on Tehrik-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan’s entry to Sindh showed that the MQM considered the province its property.

The seminar was organised by the Minority Rights Commission at the Lahore Press Club.