PM hits maligning politicians to make way for dictator
ISLAMABAD, Mar 29 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Tuesday asked the nation not to support the “unfortunate tradition” of disqualifying politicians to pave way for dictatorship.“We have come through votes and will go by votes. No other way is acceptable,” Gilani said in his address to the national seminar on ‘Quaid-e-Azam’s vision of democracy’ organized by Nazariya-e-Pakistan Council, which was attended by academicians, intellectuals and think-tanks.Gilani quoted a para from his book written in prison and said the dictators would continue misleading the “silent majority” unless it speaks up.He said “power of the people is ultimate ... If someone is trying to take a shortcut, they should form a political party first.”The Prime Minister denounced that even the comrades of Quaid-e-Azam were disqualified on corruption charges, making it easy for the dictator to take over.
Gilani asked the nation not to get carried away by such tactics against the political forces.
Gilani said Pakistani nation contrary to the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, kept on welcoming the dictators compared to India that continued moving on the path to democracy.
He said Bhutto’s 1973 Constitution gave a bicameral system as a guarantee to the smaller provinces to safeguard their rights.
The Prime Minister also mentioned the “double standard” of some and said “it is not right that first you elect people and then you say you don’t like them... What if you remove them and they get re-elected.”
He said elections were the only democratic way for the governments to come in and go.
Gilani said he would not resist criticism from opposition or media and said he would choose to “bend rather break”.
He said he could even deliver better sitting in opposition as Pakistan Peoples Party always fought for democracy, Constitution and peoples’ rights.
“If you don’t like me, bring a vote of no confidence. I will leave. But if you don’t even have a majority and even then ask to leave then it is better to accept democracy and don’t talk of changing faces.”
He rejected the speculations of a Tulip-like revolution in Pakistan saying that the country enjoyed democracy and revolutions come where there is no democracy.
Gilani stressed for upholding the Quaid-e-Azam’s vision for not letting Pakistan become a theocratic state and urged nation to shun regionalism by adopting a more nationalistic approach.
He said it was the time to reject the regional, religious and sectarian differences within and ‘think and act like a Pakistani’.
Gilani said Quaid-e-Azam’s democratic efforts for the establishment of Pakistan were based on dialogue, negotiation and reconciliation who wanted a Pakistan where all lived with harmony.
He also referred to the Quaid’s blueprint for the future Constitution in which he categorically mentioned that it would be of “a democratic type, embodying the essential principle of Islam” and “in any case Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic state to be ruled by priests with a divine mission.”
He said the Quaid’s democratic Pakistan was a land with equality and justice where all could practice their own faiths with freedom.
Gilani stressed the need to transfer this vision to the younger generation so as to aware them of the vision of their Father of the Nation and their elders’ great sacrifices for this country.
He announced giving scholarships to the young students who were interested on working on Pakistan ideology.Prime Minister Gilani recalled that his great grandfathers always worked for democracy and for a voice to the people and mentioned that his father was also a signatory to the 1956 constitution, but like other politicians were sidelined by the dictators.
He said it was Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who gave the country a constitution in 1973 that spelt out Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s vision for a democratic country.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said it was the time to follow the principles of Quaid-e-Azam who regarded Islam as the basis of democracy and equality for all.
She said a handful of people had distorted the Quaid-e-Azam’s concept of democracy and were a restraint towards the establishment of a welfare society.
Dr Ashiq mentioned the Quaid’s philosophy of inter-faith harmony and stressed the need for inculcating the same spirit in the nation.
She said Pakistan’s Peoples Party’s democratic government was striving to ensure common man’s well-being in accordance with the golden principles of the Quaid-e-Azam. She said the Pakistan Peoples Party was committed to strengthening the State institutions and its leaders have rendered sacrifices for the same cause.
Dr Ashiq said there were no political prisoners in Pakistan and mentioned the numerous achievements like the NFC award, the 18th and 19th amendments, successful Swat, Malakand and South Waziristan operations and return of Internally Displaced Persons, besides initiating several new development projects.
She said all these measures have minimalised the impact of the global economic recession and steps were being taken for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan.
She said the government and think-tanks like Nazariya-e-Pakistan Council could play a collective role in fulfilling the responsibilities towards making Pakistan a prosperous state.
The Minister quoting excerpts from the various addresses of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah said his vision clearly reflects his desire for a democratic system, where all are treated equally and have full freedom to practice their religious beliefs.
Zahid Malik, President Nazariya-e-Pakistan Council and Editor-in-Chief Pakistan Observer said strong democracy was the basis of Pakistan’s ideology to maintain good governance.
He said the seminar’s topic was coherent with Pakistan’s present situation in view of its continuing journey of democracy despite challenges.
He appreciated Prime Minister Gilani’s efforts to ensure harmony among the state institutions for their smooth working. He mentioned in this regard his patience and correlated his open-heartedness for all with the “vast courtyard of Lahore’s Mughal era-built Badshahi mosque”.
He said Prime Minister Gilani’s patronage for the Nazariya-e-Pakistan Council was reflective of his strong support for Pakistan ideology.
He said Gilani’s upcoming visit to India to join his Indian counterpart to see the Pak-India cricket match would be a great appreciation for the “green shirts”.
Dr Riaz Ahmed ad Professor Sharif-ul-Mujahid in their papers proved through historical facts, the strong desire of the Quaid-e-Azam for a clean, committed democratic system of governance, that supports dialogue, and ruled out theocracy.
Former Minister Col A. K Tressler, Pir Naqeebur Rehman, Prof Sharif ul Mujahid,  academicians and intellectuals attended the seminar.