Bureau Report

PESHAWAR, Sept 15: Speakers at a seminar on Wednesday asked political parties, civil society and media to join hands for strengthening democracy and blocking the way of martial laws in the country.

Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development (CRSD) arranged the seminar in collaboration with Peshawar Press Club here on the occasion of World Democracy Day.

CRSD head Idrees Kamal said that dictators had never allowed democratic institutions in the country to flourish and always imposed martial laws at the cost of people’s rights.

He presented some resolutions, including the one calling on the government to introduce democracy as subject in the academic course. He said that media should discourage those forces who had been paving the way for martial laws. Through another resolution, Mr Kamal demanded an end to the trend of dynastic politics.

He said that all elected governments should be allowed to complete their constitutional term.

In a separate resolution, the CRSD head urged the ISPR to clarify army’s position concerning MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s demand for accountability of politicians by army. All the resolutions were unanimously adopted.

A civil society activist Shakeel Waheedullah said that conspiracies were being hatched against democracy. He said that the MQM chief had clearly invited army and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Shahbaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar had also met Chief of the Army Staff in the darkness of night, but did not disclose objective of their meetings.

He said that the nation needed political education so that people could raise voice for their rights. Referring to the role played by Pak Army in flood relief activities, he said that one of the reasons for army’s popularity among public was its substantial support to people in different disasters. He said that politicians never played such a role to come closer to people and get their support for democracy.

All Pakistan Hindu Rights Movement chairman Haroon Sarab Diyal said that democracy in Pakistan was getting roots very slowly but still people had attached great expectations to democratic system. He said that civil society, media and politicians should join hands to strengthen democratic institutions in the country.

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party provincial vice-president Dr Said Alam Mehsud said that democracy ensured equality to all races and there was no concept of minorities in democracy.

He said that democracy would get real strength when three successive elected governments would complete their constitutional tenures.

Awami National Party provincial spokesman Arbab Tahir said that dictators had always created problems and democratic governments had resolved the issues.

Local PPP leader Daud Khattak appreciated the role of army in the flood relief and rescue operation and criticised the government for its failure to support people in the hour of distress.

He said that corruption had disturbed the entire political system and getting justice had become very difficult.