KARACHI, Feb 3: Speakers at a seminar here on Sunday called for introducing basic changes in the state system by ending foreign influence in the economic and political spheres of the country.

They maintained that peace and stability in the region was linked with the internal policies of the rulers who had always served the interests of foreign donors or their own class interests.

They said that under a decaying system based the on domination of the military and civilian elite classes, democracy and democratic values had been ruined and the rulers had encouraged sectarian forces posing a threat to domestic and regional peace.

The seminar urged the rulers of Pakistan and India to settle their disputes peacefully and work for durable peace and economic prosperity in the region.

Entitled “Regional peace & economic development”, the seminar was organized by the National Workers Party. it was addressed by senior columnist and leader of the Pakistan Peace Coalition M.B Naqvi, NWP leaders Yusuf Mastikhan, BM Kutty, Akhtar Husain advocate and Sahib Dino and labour leader Karamat Ali.

Mr Naqvi said the country had always been run on the dictates of foreign forces and that was the main cause of our political and economic subjugation.

He was of the view that the issue of peace and stability in the region was related to the question of restoration of human rights and democracy in the country.

Mr Naqvi argued that those objectives could not be achieved without introducing fundamental changes in the state system and urged the progressive forces of the country to wage a joint struggle to achieve those objectives.

NWP general secretary, Mr Yusuf Mastikhan, held the fundamentalist forces of Pakistan and India responsible for creating war hysteria and thus obstructing peaceful resolution of disputes.

He said that the economic development of the region depended on peace in South Asia and advocated regional economic cooperation to end the domination of imperialism and globalisation.

Mr Mastikhan said the NWP had always opposed religious obscurantism and demanded the joint electorate system. But at the same time, he said, it should not be on account of some external pressure but should be a part of political commitment and as a basic principal for the establishment of democratic and modern institutions.

The seminar passed a resolution calling upon the governments of India and Pakistan to settle all their disputes including the issue of Kashmir through dialogue and negotiations.

In another resolution, the NWP demanded electoral reforms with stringent control and reduction of electoral expenses so that the common man could participate in the general elections.

33 per cent reservation of seats for women and reservation of seats for workers and peasants in the local bodies system were also demanded. In another resolution, the seminar condemned the recent amendment introduced in the Anti-terrorism Act saying “it is against the independence of judiciary.