US policy and Indian hegemony unacceptable, says Rabbani

Reiterates even a weak democracy is hundred times better than dictatorship

Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani on Saturday asked the people of Pakistan to come forward and join hands against the threatening remarks of US President Donald Trump.

Addressing a seminar on democracy at the Karachi Press Club, Rabbani said, “We will not accept US policy to make the Indian prime minister a Chaudhry of this region”

He said: “Pakistan has rendered great sacrifices in the war against terrorism and the international players must understand and realise it.”

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Talking about democracy, the senate chairman said: “Democracy is the real solution to all problems, and undemocratic governments have always ruined the country.”

He asked as to who had given permission to the US to use “our airports and airspace in the war against terrorism”, himself replying that it was not a democratic government, but a military dictator. “A weak democracy is hundred times better than a dictatorship,” he insisted.

Rabbani said some extremist elements were against the country’s unity and had been pursuing someone else’s agenda to derail democratic governments. “Pakistan is a multi-cultural country and we all have to accommodate and tolerate each other,” he remarked.

“Our country needs the form of governance envisioned by the Quaid-e-Azam for all citizens to have equal rights,” he said, adding, “Basically, the struggle for Pakistan was the struggle for democracy, but unfortunately some elements stood up against it.”

Earlier, Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo said it was their third generation who had been fighting for democratic values in the country.

“Despite all our efforts, we, sadly, have not strengthened parliament and democratic dispensation,” he lamented.

He stressed the need for initiating a dialogue to strengthen parliament.

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Ayaz Latif Palijo of the Qaumi Awami Tehreek said: “Individuals don’t run the country, and there is a dire need to strengthen institutions and democratic culture.”

He alleged that efforts were being made to turn Sindh into a minority in the recent census. “Is this democracy?” he said, adding, “We produce 72% gas but suffer from gas and power load-shedding. This is being done in the name of democracy.”

The MQM-P diverted the attention of the participants towards Article 140 and said, “We always talk about parliament and the provincial government’s autonomy, but don’t focus on the rights of local governments.”

Maulana Asadullah Bhutto of the Jamaat-e-Islami, PPP’s Nisar Khuhro, Anees Advocate of the Pak Sarzameen Party, Afaq Ahmed of the MQM-Haqiqi and others also spoke on the occasion.