NewsDecember 10 , 2017
APC says democracy only solution
LAHORE: The political parties, attending an APC organised by the Lahore High Court Bar Association, on Saturday agreed that democracy was the only solution for steering the country out of the prevailing crisis.A declaration issued after the meeting said martial law or non-political forces had no place in the current set up and the political forces would not side by them in any circumstances, adding that they would rather become an iron wall to foil all attempts and conspiracies to derail democracy.
Leaders from all major political parties – including the PML-N, PPP, PTI, JI, PSP and MQM-Pakistan, participated in the conference which was aimed at devising a policy to counter the alleged anti-judiciary campaign launched by the ruling and other political parties.
The conference also condemned US President Donald Trump’s decision to accept Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, vowing to thwart such attempts. It deplored the vilification campaign launched by the ruling party against the superior judiciary and judges, saying the judiciary was the guardian of rule of law and protector of people’s basic rights.
The participants also resolved that the future of democracy was under threat in the prevailing political situation and they would not support any undemocratic step in the country. “It is the sole prerogative of the Parliament to rule the country, however at the same time, the political parties should learn a lesson from their mistakes and restore people’s confidence in the political system and politicians,” the declaration added.
It also demanded establishment of an independent Election Commission, provision of fundamental rights of citizens and speedy justice to the victim families of Model Town incident. PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said free and fair elections were the basic requirement for democracy to flourish in the country, adding the same goal could not be achieved without setting up an independent Election Commission.
“It is a constitutional right of every citizen to protest for his rights but at the same time the protesters should remain peaceful and abstain from destroying people’s properties.” Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid said it was important for democracy to stay alive in Pakistan. The rulers had taken loans worth billions of rupees, he said, adding, “In summers we get gas, while we get electricity in winters.”
He claimed that investors were stealing electricity worth Rs200 billion from the country. The same people who were with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, sided with Musharraf, PML-Q and were currently the PML-N ministers, he said.
Two back-to-back scuffles broke out between the lawyers as a group of lawyers wanted to sit on the stage, however, the organising committee members told them that seats had already been assigned to them.
As the argument turned heated, Lahore High Court Bar Association President Chaudhry Zulfikar intervened and resolved the matter. Sheikh Rashid lamented the fight and the requested the lawyers to “stop fighting like politicians”. He added that the lawyers' fight would become the sole highlight of the conference.
PSP head Mustafa Kamal said the present democratic system was not proving fruitful for common people as their socioeconomic condition was deteriorating. “The political parties grab the power but they do not use it for the welfare of the people,” he remarked.
PPP’s Sardar Latif Khosa, PAT’s Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, PML-Q’s Mian Munir and leaders of other political parties also address the conference and expressed their support to the democratic norms in the country.
Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk
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