President resolves to ‘further strengthen democracy in Pakistan’
President Asif Ali Zardari hoped that the observance of the International Democracy Day would lend strength to the pro-democracy forces throughout the world and discourage potential dictators from curbing the aspirations of the people through political adventurism.
President Asif Ali Zardari said the greatest threat to democracy is from extremists and militants who want to foist their political agenda on the people by bullet rather than ballot.
In a message the President said, “I am pleased to learn that the International Day of Democracy is being observed throughout the world today under the auspices of the United Nations to assess the state of democracy around the world and to reinforce commitment to democratic ideals.”
He said intolerance to dissent and disagreement also endanger democracy.
The President complimented democracies of the world and reiterated firm resolve to further strengthen democracy in Pakistan.
“The people of Pakistan are resolute in safeguarding their democratic rights and reject the anti democracy elements that derail the democratic process,” he added.
“The ethos of the people of Pakistan is democratic. Early this year their chosen representatives unanimously adopted changes in the constitution to restore its pristine democratic credentials.”
He expressed confidence that the elected parliament in keeping with democratic traditions would ensure that the democratic constitution was not subverted by any one.
“Our people may have endured spells of dictatorship due to coercion but they have neither accepted nor accorded legitimacy to dictatorship,” the President added.
Zardari said they have not accepted any adventurer sabotaging the democratic process. That is why all Bonaparte and undemocratic adventurers in Pakistan finally ended up as footnotes in history.
“Our people have offered great sacrifices for democracy. Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and many others laid down their lives for the cause. But democracy has yet to gain strength. For democracy to gain strength, we need to work in a spirit of harmony and reconciliation,” he added.
For just 5 years back, the country had no internal doctrine as well
just as it does not have an external doctrine. The political forces in
the country, the biggest two, seized the moment and initiated a
dialogue which led to the Charter of Democracy. Charter of Democracy
provided a comprehensive consensus on the movement ahead on the
internal issues and is fast turning into the first consensus document
since 1973’s constitution. Slowly but gradually, it is helping
democracy take root in the country and address the balance of power
between civilian institutions. And despite political opportunism
(which must be taken as a ground reality), it has helped set the game
plan and rules which act as a deterrence when the hostility goes
overboard. The people of Pakistan are resolute in safeguarding their
democratic rights and reject the anti democracy elements that derail
the democratic process.
Shameful, indeed are the pronunciations of Zardari. He has taken the party leadership on a suspected Will. Showing that PPP is a private property of his family rather than a political party. Some grandees of PPP suspect and openly claim not everything is kosher in this respect. Therefore, first step of democracy is not for offering.
Secondly, they way Zardari runs this government is anything but democratic. Gilani is nothing but a puppet, good for nothing stooge whose body language is worst I have seen even amongst the very lowly politicians of Pakistan, mind you some of them don’t even feel ashamed scratching their balls on the TV camera. One ex-Federal Minister even did it on national TV.
It is also laughable for PPP supporters to mention Charter of Democracy, when it ever got implemented? Both parties have made a mockery of it. Proves without doubt, it is just another tool to fool the masses. These two political outfits do not have democracy within their own parties, how they can give democracy to the country?
We will find out soon enough how much service to the Democracy Zardari and Co did in Pakistan. The rumours are, Zardari alone had made over $10 billion in two and half years, the rest of the cabal has ripped Pakistan to its bone now.
Zardari, you are true proponent of democracy, we will see the result of your democratic values soon enough, I am sure of it.
You’ll probably see a similar type regime coming into power in Pakistan, which will be as corrupt as they have been in the past and as incompetent as they have been in the past.
David Bain
The critics of democracy in Pakistan will easily point out
shortcomings of democracy; the current democratic government and its
failure to deal with outstanding problems faced by country. Majority
of public needs to have some kind of idea that they are living in a
democratic state which means they need to know some basic things. For
example, it is very easy to criticize a government, but at the same
time people should remember that government comes into power with
their votes. Government needs their support, democracy needs their
backing and endorsement to prevail. The first decade or even first few
decades of a democracy might be a rough ride, but democracy is
naturally self-correcting. Just give it some time, and it will surely
transform Pakistan. All Pakistan needs is well functioning democracy,
it will solve most, if not all the problem that country is facing. In
the end it all comes to leadership, and only democracy can provide
best possible leadership in the long-run.