This demand was made by NWP president and eminent lawyer Abid Hassan Manto on Monday at a reception organized by the Islamabad-Rawalpindi chapter of the party at the Rawalpindi Press Club.
Mr Manto called for resolution of issues between the two neighbouring countries through talks, exchange of cultural troupes, people to people contact, and promotion of trade. This is imperative to get rid of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, debt, and stronghold of the IMF and the World Bank, he added.
He welcomed government’s efforts for cleaning the mess created by feudal, military dictators, agencies, and religious orthodox forces. However, he regretted that these steps were being taken on the US instructions.
Taking strong exception to discrimination against women, the NWP president said it was illogical to give 33 per cent representation to women at the district level, and reduce their seats to 20 per cent at the national level.
He called for at least 33 per cent increase in the women’s seats at the national level, as part of affirmative action required under the Beijing Declaration.
Opposing government’s policy to hold direct elections on general seats and indirect elections on the seats reserved for women and technocrats, he called for holding direct elections on all seats.
The NWP, he said, would fully participate in the forthcoming general elections at all levels.
Condemning the condition of graduation for parliamentarians, he said the military rulers should look into their own educational backgrounds before laying down the criterion that they themselves did not fulfil. The rule has been introduced to deprive the 70 per cent working class people and peasants from electing their representatives to the assemblies, he maintained.
The NWP chief said the government was taking steps for liberalization of economy on the dictates of the US and the international financial institutions. Therefore, instead of reduction in poverty, unemployment and debt burden, the problems of common people are aggravating, he added.
He said leftists parties and progressive forces had been calling for improving the economy and liberalization of the society for a long time, but it was unfortunate that the reforms were not being implemented according to the wishes of the masses. Without abolishing feudalism, military and civil bureaucratic rule, no positive change can be expected in the society.
Opposing government’s policies under external influences, Mr Manto said regional cooperation in South Asia should be encouraged to fight globalization and imperialism.
The NWP Taxila secretary-general, Arslan Bari advocate read resolutions that were unanimously adopted. The party vowed to support the struggle of lawyers, workers, peasants and professional associations for real change in the society.
The party welcomed the stand of Indian leftist and liberal parties for not supporting the Vajpayee government in its anti- Pakistan campaign.
The NWP central secretary-general, Yousaf Mastikhan, Senior Vice-president Shamim Ashraf Malik, and Masoodul Hassan advocate, also spoke on the occasion.
The speakers criticised the government for sending those elements for propagation of Pakistan’s stand abroad, who were responsible for creating the mess in the first place.
They called for return of the armed forces to their barracks and demanded supremacy of the parliament.