KARACHI, March 13: All democratic forces and civil society organizations should forge unity and pursue a common agenda of launching a decisive movement for the restoration of true democracy, complete provincial autonomy and an end to military takeovers in the country.

This was stated in the resolutions adopted at a conference on Provincial Autonomy held under the auspices of the National Workers Party at the Karachi Press Club on Sunday.

The party’s city chief, Usman Baloch, chaired the conference. Those who spoke on the occasion included prominent politician Meraj Mohammad Khan, PPP-SB chairperson Ghinwa Bhutto, opposition leader in Senate Mian Raza Rabbani, NWP Secretary-General Yusuf Masti Khan, National Party chief Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Sindh Bar Association President Akhtar Hussain, and Jeay Sindh Mahaz chief Abdul Khaliq Junejo.

The resolution stated that the centre should retain only four subjects — defence, foreign affairs, currency and communications – while all other subjects should be devolved to provinces.

Through another resolution, the conference termed Balochistan issue ‘political’ and said it should be resolved through negotiations with political leaders instead of army operation. It called for a consensus of all provinces on water issue that included Kalabagh Dam and Bhasha Dam projects, as well as water distribution system.

The conference demanded an end to armed forces’ intervention in politics, and asserted that all serving and retired military personnel posted in civilian institutions be removed.

It also demanded putting a halt to the privatization of national concerns; bringing down prices of essential commodities, including petroleum products, flour, Ghee, milk, sugar, rice, etc.; replacement of IRO-2002 with the draft IRO unanimously recommended by trade union leaders, granting of an unemployment allowance to jobless people; and disbanding of the Oil Advisory Committee.

Speaking on the occasion, the speakers pointed out that Pakistan, in spite of being a federal state, was being run from the very beginning under a unitary form of government. The strong centre thus created had already resulted in the dismemberment of the country, they observed.

They recalled that the constitution, which had been drafted and approved after the 1971 debacle, provided for the transfer of all powers defined in the concurrent list to the provinces within 10 years. However, they regretted, the powers, though still limited, had not been transferred even after 32 years now. They said that the prevailing economic and political crises, unrest among people and the centre-provinces conflict that had reached its peak were the outcome of the sense of deprivation in provinces.

Ms Ghinwa Bhutto was of the view that achieving autonomy without a change having been effected in the system would be meaningless. In this context, she stressed on empowering people through devolution — from centre to provinces and from province to the lowest tier. She contended that if system remained unchanged, any leadership becoming part of the system would turn into an oppressive force.

She emphasized the need for greater unity among all nationalities in the country, warning that they could not meet any challenge without joining hands.

Apart from the national issues, Ms Bhutto said, there were challenges of globalization and imperialist hegemony that people not only of the country but the whole region were exposed to. By forging unity, the masses would emerge more powerful than the oppressive forces, she stressed.

She disagreed with those who were calling for a unified and decisive struggle against the military takeovers and for the restoration of democracy under a leadership that should also include former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. “There is no dearth of dedicated people. Let them come forward and lead the people instead of testing the failed leadership again,” she remarked.

Mr Meraj Mohammad Khan, referring the ongoing process of disposing of all major institutions, organizations and public utilities, questioned the benefits of autonomy if every granted to the provinces.

“After handing over of all natural resources of provinces to the private sector, what would be left with the provinces if they are granted autonomy?”

He was of the view that a one-point agenda for any movement by nationalist forces for the restoration of democracy would not work. Keeping in view the fate of such movements in the past, it was imperative to chalk out a comprehensive programme that could guarantee the success of the struggle.

Mr Raza Rabbani said that the federation could not become strong unless all its federating units were made strong. “The parliament is nothing more than a rubber stamp institution,” he remarked, adding that it was no more a policy- making institution as the job has been grabbed by an individual who was ruling over the country.

“There is a need for all democratic forces and civil society organizations to unite on the agenda of restoration of true democracy, complete provincial autonomy and an end to armed forces’ intervention in politics,” he said.

Mr Yusuf Musti Khan stressed on evolving a national consensus on snatching rights from the army as was witnessed in the revolution in Iran. He called for joining hands for the elimination of feudalism, and declared that there would be no compromise with any autocratic forces on any amendment to the 1973 constitution which, he said, must be restored in its original form.

Mr Hasil Bizenjo said the armed forces could be made to go back to their barracks only through a concerted and joint struggle for restoration of democracy.

Mr Akhtar Hussain said that all problems being faced by people in the country were the direct outcome of the present unitary form of government.

Mr Nisar Shah attributed the gravity of the situation arising out of the provinces’ demand for total autonomy to the denial of fundamental rights to citizens ever since the independence.

Mr Abdul Khaliq Junejo said that Pakistan could survive only if the 1940 resolution was implemented in letter and spirit as it provided for a sovereign and autonomous status for all constituent units of the country.