Pakistan Peoples Party leader Raza Rabbani has said that the charter of democracy needs to be revisited to bring a new covenant between democratic forces. Addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club on Friday, he shared an open letter to political workers, farmers, peasants, laborers, artisans, artists, shopkeepers, writers, intellectuals and journalists.
“All political forces should discuss and ascribe their signatures to a minimum national political agenda, the Benazir Bhutto Model for democratic transition,” he said.
Reading the 14-point letter, he said that there was a dire need to reaffirm the commitment to the process of federalism and devolution. The PPP leader called upon all stakeholders to forge an alliance, saying, “Let us wage a joint struggle as you are the silent majority that has been the vanguard in all national progressive democratic movements.”
Rabbani said there was need to redefine the civil-military relationship through constant dialogue and development of systems at executive and parliamentary levels.
“We have to develop a harmonious blend between the quota system and merit in providing jobs. This will ensure academic freedom and respect the autonomy of the universities and to allow the provinces to change the curriculum,” he added.
Rabbani said it was essential to ensure the freedom of the press by safeguarding the rights of the working journalist and the implementation of rights of information under Article 19 A of the Constitution.
“There is a moral, social, political and economic crisis in Pakistani society. The state is in crisis, it is not a failed state,” he said. “It can and must be pulled back before it gets sucked into the quicksand of history.”
The PPP leader said that corruption, terrorism, sectarianism, lawlessness, crime, drug abuse, economic disparity, crony capitalism, fiscal irresponsibility, economic mismanagement have made it difficult for the common man in Pakistan.
“PPP has differences with PML-N over a number of issues, but we will not let anyone derail democratic dispensation,” he said, adding that Pakistan has been suffering because of military coups and political forces should now learn a lesson from the past.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2014.
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