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“Give politics a chance” was the consensus among leading
representatives of civil society and political parties at a
forum held in Islamabad on Wednesday where they agreed that the
task ahead is to restore democratic politics as a legitimate way
for Pakistan to govern itself after years of vilification and
attacks on political parties by successive military
dictatorships.
The
Forum “New Democratic Possibilities: What Next?” was arranged by
the the Centre for Civic Education (CCE) in partnership with
National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI).
HRCP Chairperson Ms. Asma Jahangir said at the forum that the
recent elections proved peoples’ confidence in democracy adding
that the lawyers struggle was for democratic institutions, not
just individuals.
“We
don’t have big expectations for overnight change in this country
but at least we can set the right direction towards a real
transition to civilian democracy that ensures an independent
judiciary, a free media, respect for the peoples’ mandate and
civil rights” she said. “The electorate wants a bridge to
democracy,” and politicians need to be given a chance in light
of the challenges awaiting the incoming government.”
The
well-known human rights activist called for an early convening
of parliament and emphasized that judges should have nothing to
do with the election commission and politicians should not be on
the PEMRA board.
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Senator Mian Raza Rabbani
asked for patience and cooperation from all sectors of society
so the new government can live up to the expectations of the
mandate they have been given. “We will try to adhere to the
spirit of the Charter of Democracy and build on it through
constitutional and institutional reforms” he said. “We will
ensure transparency of our government through free media,
independent judiciary and a sovereign parliament despite the
many problems left by the outgoing regime,” he added. He
committed to the revival of trade unions, student unions and
economic uplift in addition to addressing the threat of
terrorism and grievances of the smaller provinces like
Balochistan.
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SCBA
representative Athar Minallah said that for the first time in
the history of the country we are getting encouraging signals
from the political parties to change the mindset of the ruling
establishment. “On 18th February the people of Pakistan proved
that they know how to rule themselves and it’s time now to give
politicians a chance as they seem determined to fight strengthen
institutions” he insisted.
Secretary General of PFUJ Mazhar Abbas said that at the behest
of the previous government PEMRA violated its own laws by
putting undue bars on media freedom. He demanded the repeal of
PEMRA Ordinances and insisted on the formation of a regulatory
body by the parliament in consultation with all stakeholders.
He said that the Prime Minister should have the power to appoint
the PEMRA chief, not the President. Mazhar said that all
representative bodies of working journalists and media owners
should also develop their own code of conduct to make the media
more responsible. “Our expectation from the new government is
respect for media freedom, independence of judiciary and
supremacy of the parliament” he declared. Mazhar sadly noted
that 26 journalists and their family members have been killed in
Pakistan over the past 7 years, there have been 102 incidents of
violence and 78 journalists are facing anti-terrorism charges in
Sindh alone.
Representative of Qaud-i- Azam University Student Action
Committee Alya Ameer Ali said that the students came out in
large numbers through out the country during the struggle for
the restoration of judiciary and rejected the impression being
imposed by some quarters that politics was a dirty thing. “Now
the realities have changed and we have to trust the politicians”
she said. Alya demanded total extermination of the army’s role
in politics and insisted on building the institutions, creating
job opportunities and lifting of ban on student unions.
NDI
Country Director Sheila Fruman in her opening remarks said she
hoped the forum would provide an opportunity for an exchange
between civil society and political parties with the aim of
strengthening democracy and democratic institutions in the
country after the elections.
CCE
Director Zafarullah Khan moderated the forum. Ms. Jamila
Gillani of ANP and Senator Tahir Mashhadi of MQM also spoke on
the occasion. |
