International Day of Democracy: Kaira’s appointment as governor ‘murder of democracy’: Marvi | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

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International Day of Democracy: Kaira’s appointment as governor ‘murder of democracy’: Marvi

ISLAMABAD: Appointment of Kamar Zaman Kaira as acting governor of Gilgit-Baltistan amounts to ‘murder of democracy’ because he is a PPP member, said Marvi Memon, a PML-Q MNA, on Tuesday.

Kaira, she said, held portfolios of minister for information and KANA and during his one-and-a-half years development process came to a halt. According to constitution, an MNA could not hold become a governor simultaneously and in Kaira’s case, the constitution had been overstepped, she said.

She was speaking at an interactive meeting titled ‘Role of Political Parties, Media and Civil Society to Build a Democratic Pakistan’ at SAFMA Media Centre.

South Asian Women in Media (SAWM) Islamabad Chapter conducted the event to mark ‘International Day of Democracy’.

Memon said no consensus was developed in the parliament or between political parties on governorship of Kaira. “When we talk about democratic values, we have to differentiate civilian dictatorship from military dictatorship. Under present government set-up, there’s no democratic mechanism,” she said.

Involvement of masses in making decisions was essence of democracy, which was missing in present scenario, she said. She said removal of local government (LG) system was a wrong step taken by the present government.

She said under Pervez Musharraf, PML-Q had made reforms for Gilgit-Baltistan. People of Gilgit-Baltistan had criticised Kaira’s appointment since he was not a local who could understand their problems, she said.

Zafar Ali Shah: Senator Syed Zafar Ali Shah said different rulers experimented different things in the name of democracy. “Democracy is a system to patience, representation and tolerance,” he said.

Shah said rule of law could only be implemented in its true essence, if judiciary and media were free. “We have to accept minorities rights and accept them as Pakistan’s citizens to let democratic process flourish,” the senator said.

Bushra Gohar: Bushra Gohar, an ANP MNA, said people of Pakistan were going through a democratic process rejecting Musharraf’s dictatorial rule, which ruined the institutions.

In development of political system, political parties, media and civil society’s role could not be ignored, she added. “It is vital for all political parties to make consensus on all major issues and resolve them amicably,” she said.

She said in Pakistan, unfortunately, common man had not been given his right to reject political actors.
Source: Daily Times
Date:9/16/2009