PUAN organises seminar on democracy

SUKKUR: The Pakistan-US Alumni Network (PUAN), Sukkur, on Saturday organised a one-day seminar on Democracy -- A voice of youth, women and inclusive communities.

While addressing the seminar, speakers including Abid Lashari, Nabila Raja, Ishrat Rana, Sarfaraz Koraijo, Zain Aaraijo, Ali Hassan Mahar, Baderuddin Samaijo, Dr Badar Memon, Abdul Hameed Bullo, Miss Qamar Soomro, Mrs Rosey, Anwar Sial and PPPP Sukkur divisional president Ex-MPA Haji Muhammed Anwar Mahar said that there were  gender discrimination and the tribal and imperial system, creating hindrances in the restrengthening of democracy and added that 60 percent voters were under fear and greed while participating in the voting process.

They said that the vote was also divided on the caste and religious basis. They said that according to the UNCRPD’s Charter 11, which was also signed by Pakistan that the disable community would be facilitated, but the vulnerable community was being deprived of its democratic rights and added that there were 10 percent disabled, while the government of Pakistan believed that there were two percent disabled community.

They said that admission in schools, colleges, universities was not accessible to disabled. They said that Pakistan failed to meet the targets of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) but again it signed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with pledges to meet the targets by ensuring all rights of the inclusive community. Abid Lashari said that there were only disabled wings encouraged by the PTI and the MQM Pakistan.

They said that democracy was the need of hour and it should be for the people, not for the power corridors. They said that the 18th Amendment of the PPP government was good step towards strengthening of democracy. Zain Araijo said that democracy was the backbone of Islam.

The speakers said that there was 77 percent of the vulnerable community, deprived of democratic rights. Israr Bhatti, Secretary General at Sukkur Chamber of Commerce said that the women empowerment was the need of hour and added that without empowering the vulnerable community, there would be no democracy. He said that Khilafat remained a sustainable democracy.

They said that participation of all was the name of democracy. They said that rule of law, spirit of patriotism, ethical defense, education for all, guarantee of freedom, equality and equity should be promoted. They said that tribalism reflected upon the political system and added that there were lots of opportunities for women, like women’s reserved seats in assembly as well as in local government.

They said that all people had right of vote. They said that democracy without development and women cannot meet the targets. The speakers criticized the role of the political parties and added that there were no any democratic norms in the political parties. They agreed on the youth and women empowerment and restoration of institutions.