KP Assembly seeks unity against undemocratic forces

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday adopted a unanimous resolution asking all the political parties to unite against unelected and non-democratic elements who were conspiring to derail the democratic process.

The resolution asked the Election Commission of Pakistan to make arrangements for the upcoming general election in the country. The resolution, tabled and read out by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Member Provincial Assembly Javed Abbasi, was jointly signed by senior minister Rahimdad Khan of the Pakistan People’s Party, provincial Minister Arshad Abdullah of the ANP, Sikandar Khan Sherpao of the Qaumi Watan Party, Mufti Kifayatullah of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F and Qalandar Khan Lodhi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q.

The resolution noted that the present assembly was going to complete its five years tenure but some forces and persons in the guise of so-called champions of Islam and democracy were not only spreading negative propaganda but also demanding electoral reforms to derail the democratic process and get the upcoming election postponed.

It said such people could not win election as the masses had already rejected them. It said this assembly strongly rejected such undemocratic means and the demands of these people and forces. The assembly appealed to the Election Commission of Pakistan to carry on preparations for the election without any fear and threats and asked all the political parties to unite against such conspiracies that will sabotage electoral process.

Javed Abbasi in his emotional speech, without naming Allama Tahirul Qadri, said where were these people were when the entire country witnessed the deadly earthquake, devastating floods and mass displacement of people from Malakand division and tribal areas due to militancy.

He said the genuine political parties of Pakistan had bravely faced and were still countering threats of terrorism but never asked for delaying the democratic process in the country. “Democracy is the best solution to all crisis and those who are adopting undemocratic means are not sincere to the existence of this country,” he said, adding that these elements wanted to push the country toward chaos, sectarianism and bloodshed.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain said he didn’t want to single out any individual but all the hidden forces who were hatching conspiracies to derail the democratic process were neither sincere to the country nor its people.

“All the democratic forces and political parties must join hands for democracy, rule of law and durable peace in the country,” he said/ He added that for the first time the treasury and opposition benches had thrown weight behind the Election Commissioner of Pakistan to hold free, fair and timely polls in the country.

He said the demand by a man who raised the slogan “Save the state instead of politics” for giving a role to the judiciary and army in the formation of interim set-up was not only illegal but also unconstitutional. Mian Iftikhar said the chief justice of Pakistan had clarified the role and position of judiciary and the army should also explain its role in this regard.

Hafiz Akhtar Ali of the JUI-F said his party had always supported the democratic process and those who wanted to change the society or system must adopt democratic ways.

He said the title of Sheikhul Islam was very sacred and significant in Islam and one must not utilise it for personal gains.

Earlier, the members of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly offered collective prayers for the departed souls of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Prof Ghafoor and Maulana Amir Mohammad .

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