The seminar on The Emerging Challenge of Clash of Civilizations: Problems and Prospects” was organized by Rabita International Council.
Chairman of the ARD Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Prof Ghafoor Ahmed, Illahi Bux Soomro, Gen (r) Mirza Aslam Beg, Nafees Siddiqui, Meraj Mohammad Khan, Allama Hassan Turabi, Prof Talat Wizarat, Shahid Hasan Siddiqui, Mamnoon Hussain, Nusrat Mirza and several other leaders spoke at the seminar.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim said that the opposition in Pakistan wanted next general elections to be free, fair and transparent and to be held under the supervision of a powerful and autonomous election commission. He said the election under the present set-up would be unacceptable.
He rejected Gen Pervez Musharraf’s claim of having introduced democracy, saying that the 2002 general elections were “the most rigged elections in the history of Pakistan”. He pointed out that the PPP had not been allowed to form government in the Centre and Sindh despite emerging as the majority party.
“While the government is engaged in talks with us, it is indulged in attempts to split us… 10 of our legislators have already been forced to part ways with us,” he said, naming some of the legislators as Faisal Saleh Hayat, Rao Sikander Iqbal and Naurez Shakoor. He claimed that the recent Senate election was also rigged as Gen Musharraf openly used his influence to achieve the desired results.
“Instead of caring for the whole world, we should bring our own house in order by restoring a genuine democracy, strengthening our institutions and striving for having an independent judiciary,” he emphasized, indicating that even justice is hostage in this country these days.
The ARD chief observed that Gen Pervez Musharraf had failed to achieve any of his objectives spelled out in his ‘seven-point agenda’. He had picked corrupt elements from all political parties and amassed them around himself to cheat the people of Pakistan and the whole world by portraying himself as a patron of democracy.
Makhdoom Fahim noted that wrong steps taken by the dictator were damaging the image of the whole army. The people of Pakistan wanted army to play its constitutional role and stop meddling in the country’s political affairs.
Former National Assembly speaker Illahi Bux Soomro alleged that the US was behind the four military takeovers in Pakistan, adding that without the consent of Washington, nobody could become Chief of the Army Staff in Pakistan.
He observed that the United States patronized and used General Ayub Khan against the Soviet Union, used Yahya Khan to dismember Pakistan and used General Ziaul Haq in countering Soviet forces occupying Afghanistan.
“Now this General is being used to fulfil the US designs in the region — occupation of Afghanistan and many other issues.” He said that the Pakistan army was conducting an experiment in North Waziristan to assist the occupation forces in the neighbouring country.
He pointed out that unrest had gripped two provinces of Pakistan, and advised people and political forces to “put out the fire in Balochistan and Afghanistan instead of diverting attention to the rest of the world.”
Mirza Aslam Beg said Pakistan could not sever ties with the US, but should maintain the relations without compromising on its sovereignty. Its focus should be on having improved relations with China, Iran and other regional forces, he added.
He observed that Muslim resistance movements and Mujahideen were gaining strength all over the country. “The days are not far when Muslims would gain control of their territories occupied by hostile forces.
Senator Prof Ghafoor Ahmed said that owing to the attitude of the West and US, attacks against Muslims, occupation of Aghanistan and Iraq and US designs against Iran and other Islamic states, awareness was growing among Muslims.
He said Muslim youths were now adhering to Islamic teachings.—PPI