K-P govt sees no threat to democracy

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government says artificial atmosphere is being created by anti-state elements.

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has said there is no threat to democracy and that an artificial atmosphere is being created by anti-state elements.

“All of us are responsible to take the country out of the current situation and it is everyone’s duty to play his role, including politicians and the general public,” said K-P Information Minister and provincial government spokesperson Mian Iftikhar Hussain.

Commenting on the recent political situation, he said that everyone was bound to respect the decisions of the judiciary.

Derailing the democratic process, he said would not serve anyone’s purpose.

He added that the present courts were not the courts which used to help martial laws and that the people and politicians all have played their role for the restoration of judiciary.

Mian Iftikhar said the court decisions should reflect the public aspirations, adding that these will be looked back upon in the future. They must impart stability to the country.

He said that the army was playing a historic role and its chief has also said that democracy must run its course. He added that the army’s role in the country’s stability was historic and the government and the army were together in fighting anti-state elements that are spreading false rumours which need to be countered with unity.

He added that no institution was allowed to spoil the image of the country. Mian Iftikhar emphasised that they will not support any extra-constitutional step.

Without mentioning the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, he said that democracy was the revolution for Pakistan and those who were calling for revolution were speaking someone else’s language. There are people in parliament, army and other institutions who see their future bleak in democracy.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2010.