National reconciliation must for strengthening democracy: Durrani

ISLAMABAD: Former federal minister for information and broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani has cautioned about the breakdown of democratic system if general elections do not precede the Senate elections.

“General elections must take place ahead of the Senate elections, so that the parliament is not left incomplete,” Durrani said in an interview with The News and Jang on Saturday.

When asked about the meeting with President Arif Alvi and his reaction during the past week, Durrani said that he has a long-standing relationship with Dr Alvi. “His thinking was positive. That’s why my meeting was meaningful and pleasant,” he said. He explained his meeting was productive and helped reduce the political temperatures. To a question on whose request he was holding these meetings, the former federal minister said the meeting was his personal initiative. “I am doing what Pakistan needs and it is my duty as a politician.”

Durrani said said he was an ardent supporter of reconciliation and it cannot happen overnight and only through some meetings. “Confidence building measures have to be taken,” he said. When asked about a possible meeting with former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan, the former federal minister said that the conflict is neither in the interest of the people nor Imran.

He said politics is the name of opening doors and exploring possibilities, and for that matter there can be meetings with anyone.

Responding to a question about holding the elections in 90 days, Durrani said that creating conducive environment was essential ahead of the polls and it was politicians’ duty to pacify public frustration, anger and divisions.

“The [political] leaders should focus on the national agenda rather than personal gains to turn people’s despair into hope,” he said. He said that democracy can be strengthened only through national reconciliation and unity.

He said that economic challenges and terrorism have posed serious threats to the country and it was politicians’ duty to join hands and steer the country out of multifaceted crises. “Infightings and hostile attitude against the country’s institutions will weaken democracy and the country,” he said.

The former minister said collision course will not benefit any politician. “It has the propensity to escalate the tensions and ultimately both the country and the people suffer,” he said.

Durrani said that setting politics aside, the key to economic recovery and relief from inflation lies in Special Investment Facilitation Council, and ensuring its success should be our foremost objective.

He said that internal stability is the first precondition for economic stability and recovery. “Since political stability was the requirement to materialise the concept of SIFC, all parties have to play their own role to nurture and protect this concept,” he said.

Durrani said that all eyes were on the politicians since the masses were crushed by record high inflation and economic depression. “They want relief from their sufferings,” he said. He said that people cannot get relief by burning inflated electricity bills, nor can these problems be solved by raising the political temperature. “This requires a political strategy and a national agenda and that is what I am striving for,” he added.