KARACHI, Jan 22: Leaders of different political parties at a seminar on Monday night were unanimous on maintaining “national unity”, keeping aside all past differences for the supreme interest of the country.

The seminar on “National Unity” was organized by the Mohajir Quasi Movement at the Karachi Press Club.

The leaders were hopeful that Pakistan would achieve prosperity. However they linked it with the restoration of democracy, saying that without democracy and political process there would be no chance of unity in the county.

They held the rulers responsible for damaging national unity and warned that the country would suffer further if the democratic process was not restored.

Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, chairman ARD, in his address said that political parties played an important role for the development of any county and argued that Pakistan was achieved by a political struggle and not through guerrilla war.

He urged the government to hold elections to the national and provincial assemblies in the country and suggested that armed forces go back to the barracks. He demanded formation of caretaker governments in all the provinces and in the centre to supervise general elections.

He opposed any amendment in the constitution by a non-elected government and said this authority rested with an elected parliament only.

Nawabzada expressed resentment on the government action against religious groups and demanded release of religious leaders. “If the government wants to take action against them, it should approach the Supreme Court. Only politicians have the right to run the country,” he viewed.

Chief of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement, Afaq Ahmed, said that his party would take part in the forthcoming general elections.

Professor Ghafoor Ahmed , Naib Amir of the Jamaat-e-Islami, said that non-elected forces had always damaged the unity and democratic institutions of the country and the time was ripe to join hands for democracy.

General secretary, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Meraj Mohammed Khan, was of the view that there was need to revise the political system in the country.

He urged the federation to give autonomy to all federating units. Others who spoke on the occasion included Mufti Ferozuddin, Manzoor Gillani and Saifullah.—PPI