Rabbani urges political forces to avoid attempts to derail democracy

PPP senator urges political forces should learn lesson from past dictatorships.

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and Senator Raza Rabbani on Friday said that any attempt to derail democracy in the country would not only endanger democracy but may also threaten the federation.

Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club to present his open letter addressed to different segments of society, Rabbani said that the PPP had differences with PML-N on several issues but it would not let anyone to destabilise democracy.

He was flanked by PPP leader Waqar Mehdi, Senator Saeed Ghani and others.

Rabbani said that an elected government was overturn by a dictator on the midnight of July 4 and 5, 1977, and Pakistan is still suffering from the consequences of that dictatorship. He added that the current situation was 'a gift' of the dictatorship eras of the past, specially that of Ziaul Haq and Pervez Musharraf.

He said that political forces should learn lessons from the past and avoid any attempt to derail democracy in the country.

He presented a 15-point Benazir Bhutto Model to Democratic Transition, which included three major segments, entitled Constitution-Federalism, Civil-Military relations-Governance and Fundamental Rights-Society.

Elaborating the first point, he said that the charter of democracy should be revisited to bring new covenant among democratic forces, reaffirming federal and parliamentary structures in 1973 Constitution.

Explaining the second segment, Rabbani said that civil and military relations should be redefined and the process of dialogue and development be formed at executive and parliamentary levels, ad-hocism should be shunned and a good governance system, including Civil Services Reforms should be developed, independence of judiciary be ensured and national consensus against intolerance and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations be created.

For third segment, he said that the government should protect rights of minorities, women and children, economic and political rights of working and middle class, ensure implementation of Article 38 of 1973 constitution and develop balance in quota system and merit in providing jobs.

He urged upon rights for education to every child, academic freedom and respect of autonomy for universities and rights for provinces to make changes in curriculum. He called for promoting regional cultures and freedom of press through safeguarding rights of working journalists.

He also demanded 50% ownership for federal and provincial governments on mineral oil and natural gas reserves.