September 02, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 1, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 1: Speakers on Monday called for strengthening the institutions and termed concentration of powers in individuals a cause of increased vulnerability of the political system.

Highlighting the internal and external challenges facing the country at a seminar – Presidential elections and stability in Pakistan – organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), they said it was vital to strengthen the institutions for ensuring the sustainability and stability of the political system.

The speakers also underscored the need for giving a sense of ownership and due share of resources to the people of Balochistan.

Political and defense analyst Lt-Gen (retired) Talat Masood and Ahmed Bilal Mehboob of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency (Pildat) were among the speakers at the seminar which was presided over by Dr Abid Q. Suleri of SDPI.

Gen Masood stressed the need for a system of justice and meritocracy, and strengthening of institutions instead of individuals for sustainable and stable democracy.

He observed that Pakistan was again going to have a president with “over-centralisation of power” and strong influence on the Prime Minister’s office as well as his political party.

“Ideally the president has to be a unifier, standard-setting, guide for federation and symbol of non-partisan,” he added.

The senior analyst said the major political parties should not revive the politics of 90s, adding that it was need of the hour to adopt policy of “live and let live” and ensure cooperation not confrontation to avoid the collapse of system.

He said Mr Zardari, being a Sindhi as well as Baloch, was in a unique position to solve the Balochistan crisis. He was of the view that the only to way to deal with the external pressures was to strengthen ourselves domestically.

Mr Masood identified the war on terror as the greatest challenge to the ruling coalition and warned that if the confrontation between two major political parties took place, the country would land into serious trouble.

Ahmed Bilal Mehboob termed the ongoing presidential election process “normal political activity according to the law, democratic traditions and in line with the constitution of Pakistan”. Whosoever has the majority has the right to hold this position, he added.

Mr Mehboob, however, urged strengthening of institutions not individuals to ensure the sustainable prospects for democracy and stability in the country.

Giving a detailed overview of accumulation of powers and concentration of authority by all previous governments, including that of Z.A. Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif; he cautioned that such efforts by individuals increased the vulnerability of the political system, instead of ensuring its sustainability and stability.

He added that dispersal of powers and strengthening of institutions was vital for current political set-up.

He said being the head of the PPP and loyal to the Bhutto family, Mr Zardari would be a powerful president and all the institutions, including judiciary, parliament and prime minister’s office, would be under same source of influence.

He observed that Mr Zardari had distinctive credentials, as he was most controversial person because of his corruption cases, while he had a unique position because of his party, tribal background, respect and loyalty in all four provinces.

According to him, Mr Zardari would have to avoid campaigning for his political party after becoming the president, otherwise he would be seen like former president Gen (retired) Pervez Musharraf, who used to campaign for his political party – Pakistan Muslim League.

Talking of internal and external pressures, he said if the political leadership had the courage and competence in addition to support by the people, the country could easily overcome those challenges.

Abid Suleri maintained that the country was at the crossroads today as the challenges of fuel, fiscal, financial and frontier province were demanding serious attention of the ruling coalition, while the fate of the National Finance Commission (NFC) and local governments was yet to be seen.

Citing the situation in Fata and Balochistan, he cautioned that if a tug of war for power began in Punjab among Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, the county could face a massive political instability that would seriously weaken the democratic process.