ISLAMABAD, July 26: Members of the Youth Parliament on Thursday said absence of democracy was the main reason for worsening law and order situation in the country. Taking part in a discussion on law and order during the session of the Youth Parliament, they criticised President General Pervez Musharraf for terming military uniform his second skin, and said it was the height of extremism.

Khadeeja Malik referred to a statement of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz that efforts would be made to save the lives of as much people as possible during the Lal Masjid operation, adding the government should have ensured the safety of every citizen’s life.

She expressed her doubts about the veracity of official figure of casualties during the Lal Masjid operation.

Khwaja Hamid Mushtaq said the timing of the operation against Lal Masjid raised many questions as it was launched when the Multi Party Conference was taking place in London.

He said the weapons allegedly recovered from Lal Masjid seemed to be brand new and bore no stains on them. He said even if the Lal Masjid clerics had these sophisticated weapons including rocket launchers, where were the security agencies when these were brought into the mosque complex. He said the operation had not been tactfully planned as its commander was killed on the very first day.

Zaka Shafiq lauded the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court reinstating Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

He said the government should explain under which law an operation had been launched in the heart of the capital. He said if the allegations of stockpiling of weapons were true it was a charge-sheet against the intelligence agencies.

Ajmal Shah said the historic judgment of the apex court had given hope to the people that democracy can flourish in the country.

He said the armed forces were meant to defend the geographical borders of the country and not to rule the people.

Umar Abbasi said much was being said about the writ of the government. The writ of the state should be there but the laws of the land should also be applicable to the head of the state, he added.

Liaquat Shabani said fourth operation was being carried out in Balochistan since 1948. He said thousands of people had become victims of enforced disappearance.

He alleged that the lust for dollars had turned General Musharraf into a secular person after 9/11.

Ashir Azim said killings in the name of law and order should not be allowed. He said those involved in extra-judicial killings should be taken to task.

Leader of the opposition Maryam Raza Zaidi said the head of the state should be answerable to the people of the country.

She regretted that in his televised address after the Lal Masjid operation, the president did not address the issues the nation wanted to listen to.

Leader of the house Basil Nabi Malik said democracy had a direct nexus with law and order. He said he was at a loss to understand as to why the government kept on playing the role of a silent spectator when the Lal Masjid clerics illegally occupied the children’s library and flouted the law of land through various actions.

The session was presided over by former speaker of the National Assembly Gohar Ayub Khan.

Conceived and initiated by Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency, the Youth Parliament provides the youth MPs a chance to experience life in the parliamentary spotlight and at the same time show how the next generation would approach parliamentary politics.