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KARACHI: A “political president” is essential for strengthening the nascent democracy in the country, the federal information minister said on Sunday.
“We need a political president, but not conspiratorial,” Qamar Zaman Kaira remarked while speaking at a seminar titled “Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s Vision, National Reconciliation and Peace” organised by the People’s Youth Organisation.
The minister maintained that certain elements, which were contending that free and fair polls could not be held in the presence of Asif Ali Zardari, had forgotten that the president had no powers and the caretaker government would not be led by the Pakistan People’s Party.
Kaira, who is also the PPP central information secretary, said Pakistan was achieved through political struggle and the process was then consolidated through the politics of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. “Now, democracy is being strengthened in the shape of the current government completing its tenure owing to the politics of the president.”
The minister declared that Nawaz Sharif was an integral part of the country’s politics. He added the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief could not be isolated from electoral politics. “It’s another matter that the PML-N left the PPP-led coalition.”
Kaira said if President Pervez Musharraf had been removed through a “confrontation”, democracy would not have survived in the country in its present shape. “President Zardari had sought the help of political parties to remove Musharraf, but now the same parties don’t like the ‘political president’.”
Speaking on the occasion, Haider Abbas Rizvi, a former Muttahida Qaumi Movement MNA and now the Sindh chief minister’s special assistant, said though he was born in a family of PPP supporters, he was addressing a PPP-staged event after a gap of 22 years.
He claimed that the process of reconciliation between the PPP and the MQM was strengthening, but certain elements were trying to derail it.“The unrest in Karachi and the rest of the country is aimed at sabotaging democracy. The elements responsible for it are afraid that the present regime might come into power again after the general elections.”
Rizvi said no party was likely to get a thumping majority in the next polls keeping in view the current political scenario in the country. “Allies will be needed to form the government.”He claimed that the PPP-MQM reconciliation process had “expedited” when Benazir Bhutto was alive.
Editor Jang Nazir Leghari pointed out that over 200 PPP workers have been killed in Karachi and the government had failed to protect them.He said certain PPP workers were living in government buildings as they were scared of going to their areas.The senior journalist asked PPP leaders to realise their responsibilities and “stop selling jobs.”
Columnist Wajahat Masood said the PPP had adopted the reconciliation policy when the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy was launched.Renowned dramatist Asghar Nadeem Syed said true leaders were those who listened to their workers and respected their opinions.
Recalling Benazir Bhutto’s visit to North Korea, human rights activist Hussain Naqi said the slain PPP chairperson was of the opinion that developing countries should organise themselves as the world had become unipolar and regional reconciliation should be started.
He regretted that the political parties in South Asia had given little attention to internal democracy.Anchorperson Mujahid Braveli said it was positive to see that the People’s Youth Organisation had become active after a long time.
“We need a political president, but not conspiratorial,” Qamar Zaman Kaira remarked while speaking at a seminar titled “Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s Vision, National Reconciliation and Peace” organised by the People’s Youth Organisation.
The minister maintained that certain elements, which were contending that free and fair polls could not be held in the presence of Asif Ali Zardari, had forgotten that the president had no powers and the caretaker government would not be led by the Pakistan People’s Party.
Kaira, who is also the PPP central information secretary, said Pakistan was achieved through political struggle and the process was then consolidated through the politics of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. “Now, democracy is being strengthened in the shape of the current government completing its tenure owing to the politics of the president.”
The minister declared that Nawaz Sharif was an integral part of the country’s politics. He added the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief could not be isolated from electoral politics. “It’s another matter that the PML-N left the PPP-led coalition.”
Kaira said if President Pervez Musharraf had been removed through a “confrontation”, democracy would not have survived in the country in its present shape. “President Zardari had sought the help of political parties to remove Musharraf, but now the same parties don’t like the ‘political president’.”
Speaking on the occasion, Haider Abbas Rizvi, a former Muttahida Qaumi Movement MNA and now the Sindh chief minister’s special assistant, said though he was born in a family of PPP supporters, he was addressing a PPP-staged event after a gap of 22 years.
He claimed that the process of reconciliation between the PPP and the MQM was strengthening, but certain elements were trying to derail it.“The unrest in Karachi and the rest of the country is aimed at sabotaging democracy. The elements responsible for it are afraid that the present regime might come into power again after the general elections.”
Rizvi said no party was likely to get a thumping majority in the next polls keeping in view the current political scenario in the country. “Allies will be needed to form the government.”He claimed that the PPP-MQM reconciliation process had “expedited” when Benazir Bhutto was alive.
Editor Jang Nazir Leghari pointed out that over 200 PPP workers have been killed in Karachi and the government had failed to protect them.He said certain PPP workers were living in government buildings as they were scared of going to their areas.The senior journalist asked PPP leaders to realise their responsibilities and “stop selling jobs.”
Columnist Wajahat Masood said the PPP had adopted the reconciliation policy when the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy was launched.Renowned dramatist Asghar Nadeem Syed said true leaders were those who listened to their workers and respected their opinions.
Recalling Benazir Bhutto’s visit to North Korea, human rights activist Hussain Naqi said the slain PPP chairperson was of the opinion that developing countries should organise themselves as the world had become unipolar and regional reconciliation should be started.
He regretted that the political parties in South Asia had given little attention to internal democracy.Anchorperson Mujahid Braveli said it was positive to see that the People’s Youth Organisation had become active after a long time.
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