KARACHI, June 21: The need for striking an arrangement between various segments of the civil society in Pakistan was emphasized because the struggle for power between the people and the establishment could prove fatal for the country.

These views were expressed at a seminar on Ms Benazir Bhutto’s struggle for the restoration of democracy, on the occasion of her 50th birthday. Speakers emphasized the need for learning lessons from East Pakistan debacle.

Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, central deputy secretary-general of the Pakistan Peoples Party, who presided over the seminar, criticised Gen Pervez Musharraf for what he called ‘making the whole nation hostage for the fulfilment of his personal ambitions’, and emphasised the need for an arrangement between the civil society and the politicians to avert such a situation.

He also praised the courage and steadfastness of Ms Bhutto for democratic values.

Mr Qureshi contested the government claims of economic progress and said that on the contrary poverty, unemployment and inflation were on the rise. He claimed that poverty was increasing by more than six per cent annually.

He said that negative economic indicators had put the credibility of the government in question.

Deputy chief of Jamat Islami, Prof Ghafoor Ahmad, called upon the people to make efforts to ensure that Gen Musharraf’s rule proved to be the last military rule. He also praised Ms Bhutto’s struggle and sacrifices, political and personal, and said that no individual had the right to prevent her from coming back to Pakistan.

Makhdoom Khaleequzzaman, who staged a come back, publicly, recalled the PPP’s struggle for emancipation of the people of Pakistan and Ms Bhutto’s role in reviving democracy, during Gen Zia’s rule.

Former Justice Rashid A Rizvi criticised the regime for mutilating the Constitution and ruling the country through extra-constitutional means. He also recalled the struggle and sacrifices made by late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his daughter, Ms Benazir Bhutto. He also criticised the regime for keeping Asif Ali Zardari in detention in fake cases.

On this occasion the urdu version of Ms Bhutto’s poem was recited.

The PPP had made elaborate plan to celebrate 50th birthday of its chairperson, Ms Benazir Bhutto, with a new zeal to confront anti-democracy forces. The PPP organized a gathering at Bilawal House.