SUP calls for end to ‘controlled democracy’

Karachi
The Sindh United Party has demanded transformation of Pakistan into a true federal democratic state, wherein the provinces should have full autonomy and powers.
The call was made at the GM Sayed Peace Conference organised by the party on the occasion of 20th death anniversary of nationalist leader here at the press club on Sunday.
Calling for an end to controlled democracy the conference underlined the need for holding a free, fair and transparent election for introducing transparent political system in the country so that the true representatives of the masses could make legislation in parliament and provincial assemblies for resolving the issues confronting the common man.
The moot viewed in a resolution that “Only the truly representative governments elected through the transparent polls would be able to eliminate corruption and bad governance and serve the masses, ensuring their participation in the government’s affairs and raising their living standard.
In order to curb the corruption nepotism and discouraging the thinking of ruling the country like regal style, the gathering called for continuing the accountability system, however, it suggested transparency in appointing the head of the National Accountability Bureau.
Through another resolution, the conference called for separating the religion from state affairs and considered it imperative for blocking the way of religious extremism that has damaged the foundations of the country.
“All the citizens should have equal rights without discrimination of colour, caste, creed, gender and religion.”
The conference called upon the politicians and the masses to get united for eliminating corruption from the politics and electing a neat and clean leadership through the votes for welfare of the people.
Addressing the moot, SUP President Syed Jalal Mahmood Shah said the society in Pakistan has lost the ability to differentiate between right and wrong; illicit and rightful and the legal and illegal.
“Every person prefers short cuts for moving ahead swiftly rather than adopting the direct path towards the progress. Grabbing the power through unfair means is considered as legitimate right.”
He said anarchy and clutching the power through unfair means were considered as democracy and the pillage of state organizations, by the rulers their functionaries and coteries, was regarded as their democratic right.
He maintained that national resources were being plundered swiftly instead of protecting and ensuring of their proper utilisation, adding acquiring education through unfair means and seeking jobs through fake degrees and political recommendations was thought to be a justified act.
“Such a state of affairs is not the outcome of wrongdoings committed in a single day. It’s the result of the misdeeds of 70-year-long regal style rule and particular mindset foundations of which were laid with creation of this country and now have grown up like a tree.”
Shah lamented that vested interest groups through their continuous illegitimate rule over the country had been legitimising their misdeeds, personal whims and thinking while all those were labeled as traitor and enemy of the country who opposed and criticised their misdeeds and undemocratic acts. “Thus the opportunist forces and the vested interest groups held the power since the inception of country, who despite being in the minority, wanted to rule the country or encourage people of such mindset to grab the power.”
The SUP chief asserted that Pakistan came into being on the basis of Muslim majority areas and Muhammad Ali Jinnah in his address to the first session of constituent assembly outlined the basics for running the affairs of the new country but, alas, those fundamentals were neglected and the objective resolution was incorporated in the constitution, mingling the religion with state affairs and thus encouraging the religious forces. “The country needed a constitution, law and wisdom to run the affairs but instead anti-India sentiments were fueled and made the basis for reining the country, he said, adding that this was what Saeen G M Syed predicted in his historic address to the World Peace Conference held in Vienna in 1952.
Shah opined that the country from the day of its inception was run through a unitary system of government, aimed at strengthening the center and trampling the geographical frontiers of the provinces and weakening the provincial system of government.
Representative of Awami National Party (Wali Khan Group), Qasim Jan read out the message of Begum Naseem Wali Khan, who couldn’t attend the conference due to illness.
Begum Naseem Wali said, “The country today direly needed peace and promoting the culture of tolerance more than ever.”
She recalled that Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and GM Syed were the great leaders who foresaw the threats of religious extremism and anarchy and gave message of promoting tolerance and peace.
Muslim Shamim, in his address, said GM Syed was a great statesman and secular Muslim who left an impact on generations throughout his life and even after his demise.
He reminded of the message of peace given by the late nationalist leader.
SUP leader Ghulam Shah criticised the authorities for not allowing the SUP to hold the peace conference at Nishtar Park. He also castigated those talking of dividing Sindh and urged the Urdu-speaking population to adopt Sindh as their motherland.
Zameer Ghumro, Jami Chandio, Comrade Rochiram, Prof Nagpal and Zahida Abro also spoke on the occasion.
A large number of politicians, intellectuals, writers, lawyers and political activists attended the conference.