News
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Only democracy can keep Pakistan intact* Raja says country can’t afford more experiments
* All state institutions whether army, judiciary, or media have no authority of their own when they stand separately
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Monday said only democracy and a federal party with its roots in all provinces together could keep intact the nation.
"If a federal party is weakened which represents all provinces, it weakens the state thus creating divides in the name of religion, politics and language," he said while addressing a seminar, 'Pakistan, My Identity', held in connection with Independence Day. The function was organised by a private TV channel in collaboration with the University of Lahore. Intellectuals, students and journalists attended the event.
The PM said Pakistan's independence was rooted in a great movement inspired with democratic vision and a strong struggle by the people. He said several experiments with the governmental system in the country had proved that only democracy was the time-tested system of governance.
He categorically stated that the country could not afford more experiments with any dictator, technocrat or bureaucrat to take reigns of government. He said all state institutions whether army, judiciary, police and media belonged to the country and had no authority of their own.
Raja said that today there was a need for a progressive approach to address ills of the society. He stressed for shunning mutual differences on the basis of provinces, sects and culture.
He said it was the right time to spread the message of love and affinity to bring closer the people of all provinces. He said provincial harmony could help the country progress. The premier called for eliminating sense of despondency from within the nation.
He said Pakistan had a number of good things it could be proud of, including talented people. He mentioned the eight-year-old Pakistani Shafay Thubani, the world's youngest Microsoft-certified professional and said the brilliant child was a ray of hope in present circumstances. He announced Rs 1 million for Shafay on his achievement.
He said Pakistan was the blessing of God and a source of identity to its citizens, adding that one must not become thankless in this regard. He pointed that role of media was important in highlighting the best part of the country instead of only focusing on its negatives. The prime minister urged the media to give a priority focus to the talented youth in its programmes instead of just highlighting the politicians fighting in talk shows.
On the occasion, Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said democracy believed in diversity and stressed for making the country a beautiful amalgam of its people belonging to different areas, languages and cultures. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk