ISLAMABAD: Shaukat Ali, 30, who participated in a workers’ convention of the National Party on Thursday, was holding a placard asking all the local government representatives to file their income tax returns.

“I believe only the elected representatives can address issues of the citizens. However, it can only be possible if the public representatives are not involved in corruption. Once they file their income tax returns and declare their wealth it will be possible for the citizens to know if their assets increased during their tenures or not,” Mr Ali said.

“It is the easiest way to make the elected representatives accountable. Moreover, the government should also make arrangements to bring the citizens into the tax net to ensure the development of the country.”

He said it was unfortunate that the decision makers were not serious about addressing the issues of the poor and focusing only on the construction of roads and bridges.

National Party chief Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, who is also the federal minister for ports and shipping, said only those who were aware of the issues of the poor should be allowed to rule the country.

Speakers at National Party workers’ convention say only those who understand public issues should be elected to rule country

Giving an example, he said once the finance minister was asked what should be the budget of the kitchen of a common man and the reply was Rs100,000.

“But the fact is in Pakistan a majority of people are forced to run their kitchens in just a few thousand rupees,” Mr Bizenjo said.

He said because of the lack of awareness about the issues, public problems were further increasing.

“It is unfortunate that a large number of political parties face sectarianism within their parties. Moreover, the social media is being used to create differences between the citizens,” he said.

Mr Bizenjo suggested that the civil society should come forward to address these issues.

President of the party’s Punjab chapter Ayub Malik said time had come to make Pakistan a welfare state instead of a military state.

He said the unavailability or lack of resources cannot become a hurdle if people have a determination.

“Abdul Sattar Edhi started his welfare work with no resources but because of his determination achieved all the targets and became one of the most renowned persons of the country and the world.”

He said there were more chances for the workers of the National Party to reach the top because it was not a family party.

Poet and teacher Mehmood Azhar, who is also a member of the party, said it had been decided that the party would be organised from the ward level to encourage the citizens to join it.

Dr Sanobar Khalil said Pakistan cannot progress unless women started taking part in politics. She suggested that women should raise a voice for their rights because no one else can present their case better than themselves.

“We need to highlight the issues of water, electricity, roads and other services in the federal capital because these are the issues of the common people,” she said.

Dr Babar Qadri, a representative of the Railway Workers Union, said National Party was the only party which spoke about the rights of the labourers, farmers and the common people.

He said both men and women should play their role for the development of the country.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2017