Political parties agree to let democratic process continue in national interest

LAHORE: Senior leaders of the country’s major political parties at a multi-party conference organised on Saturday by the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) unanimously resolved that democracy was the only solution to steer Pakistan out of the prevailing economic and political crisis. They were of the view that martial law or non-political forces had no place on political horizon and pledged to resist any adventurism against democratic system and state institutions. The LHCBA had convened All Pakistan Political Parties Conference to discuss current political situation and future of democracy in the country. The participants unanimously adopted 18 resolutions. All the political parties resolved to stand with democracy and against martial law and non-political forces. They condemned the recent statement of US President Donald Trump of recognising Jerusalem as capital of Israel and resolved that the whole nation would stand by the oppressed people of Palestinians and defeat the nefarious designs of Israel. The participants condemned the criticism against the superior judiciary and judges. They demanded that the disqualified prime minister and present cabinet members should not make unnecessary criticism of the judiciary. They pronounced to stand by higher superior judiciary to ensure rule of law in the country. They were of the view that in the current political situation, the future of democracy in Pakistan was not safe. The participants pledged that the political leaders would never support any undemocratic move in the country. The participants demanded that the government should ensure provision of basic rights to the people, like education, employment and better environment. The conference opined that inflation and unemployment had made it difficult for people to live. They demanded to provide justice to heirs of Model Town’s martyrs and to prosecute the culprits. The conference resolved that parliament could only run the country, and that apart from democracy no other system was acceptable. They said that political leadership should learn from its mistakes, adding that in order to restore public confidence in the political system there should be an independent and impartial election commission. The participants paid tribute to the legal fraternity for its struggle for supremacy of constitution and parliament, rule of law and independence of judiciary. The participants concluded that Pakistan needed an independent foreign policy to meet the international challenges. They condemned the so-called leaders for making speeches against the Supreme Court and other state institutions. They offered recommendations to the government for ensuring democratic values in the country. They said that elections should be held in time and all political parties, leaders and workers should be given equal opportunity to participate in the elections to ensure respect to the people’s vote. LHCBA President Zulfiqar Chaudhry read out a joint declaration issued by the participants. The participants agreed on the need to eliminate an unspecified “corruption mafia” and to work on repatriating wealth removed from the country through money laundering. They said that terrorism, sectarianism, lawlessness and division on basis of language should be uprooted from society. The house unanimously resolved that the freedom of expression within the country should be ensured. They said that PEMRA should take action against the media houses and anchorpersons propagating against the country and state institutions. The participants condemned political unrest and insatiability in the country and asked all institutions to focus on it, as economic destruction due to insecurity had become a grave concern for every Pakistani citizen. The house demanded that all political party should ensure implementation of democratic norms in their respective parties. The participants said that all parties and state institutions should respect each other. They said that parliament should avoid defacing the constitution by making unnecessary amendments. The house lastly unanimously resolved that those names should be disclosed who tried to amend the law about absolute finality of prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Speaking on the occasion, Awami Muslim League head Sheikh Rashid said there was not a single political leader in Pakistan who had not been grown in nursery of marshal laws. He pointed out those who were with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had sided with Pervez Musharraf, and now they were ministers for PML-N. He claimed that the ruling elite had no interest in democracy. He said that those who robbed democracy in the past were now trying to become champions of democracy. He said that the corrupt leaders would not be able to befool the people in the coming future. Addressing the participants of the conference, PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique said that everybody knew that the ruling party was being provoked. “Somebody is constantly turning the key; a trailer is being played. We will respond and retaliate in these circumstances,” he stated. “If you want to affect change through the vote, you will need to go through the electoral process,” he reasoned. Hitting back, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the country could not progress till the “corrupt system” was dismantled. “It is concerning that somebody who is not an elected leader has been made the leader of a national political party,” he said, referring to Nawaz Sharif. The Pak Sarzameen Party’s Mustafa Kamal praised Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif for doing a good job, but asked if repairing roads and constructing roads and bridges was the chief minister’s job. “These things should be done by the mayor,” he said. The PPP’s Sardar Latif Khosa made it clear that no strongman would be allowed to override the democratic process. “We politicians can take Pakistan to new heights if we work together,” he said. Published in Daily Times, December 10th 2017.