=> ISLAMABAD: Representatives of various political pa
ISLAMABAD: Representatives of various political parties signed the Charter of Media Freedom but differed on the question of taking part in the January 8 elections at the all-parties conference (APC) organised by the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) on Saturday.
Representatives of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and Pakistani Awami Party unanimously supported freedom of expression enshrined in the charter, but expressed divergent views on participation in elections under President Pervez Musharraf.
The PPP and JUI-F voiced their intent to take part in the elections, while other opposition parties thought otherwise.
JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, PPP Information Secretary Sherry Rehman, Senator Prof Khurshid Ahmed of the JI, ANP NWFP President Afrasyab Khan Khattak, estranged PML leader Kabir Ali Wasti, Rasool Bux Palejo, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Chairman Asma Jahangir and Daily Times Editor Najam Sethi addressed the conference.
Former premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal President Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Farooq Sattar and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan did not, however, attend the APC.
Fazlur Rehman told the participants that opposition parties should not boycott the elections. He said there should be a unanimous approach on whether or not to boycott polls, otherwise it would not really dent the Musharraf-led government.
Sherry Rehman said boycotting elections was a powerful tool that her party had used in the past. This time, she said, there was a need to contest the parliamentary elections, disregarding the fact that “pre-poll rigging” had begun and the ruling PML was actively involved in ‘manipulation’.
She argued that taking part in the election was the best way for a mass movement against the regime. “Elections are critical to mobilise people against the present rulers,” she said, and urged the media to expose rigging in polls.
Prof Khurshid, Rasool Bux Palejo and Kabir Ali Wasti wanted the opposition to boycott elections under President Pervez Musharraf. Wasti said any opposition party that chose to contest elections would ultimately be providing a constitutional cover to President Musharraf’s extra-constitutional steps.
Wasti, who is the vice president of PML, slammed the caretaker interior minister for issuing notices to deposed chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other judges to vacate their official residences.
Nationalist leader Palejo said any opposition party taking part in the parliamentary polls would ‘betray’ the nation. He said the elections were a fraud.
Najam Sethi said no movement could be successful without the participation of people living in urban areas – especially Karachi – and the trading and business communities, which were missing in the civil society and lawyers’ movement in 2007.
Afrasyab Khan Khattak and SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam also spoke to the gathering. Later, representatives of all political groups endorsed the Charter of Media Freedom by signing it.
Source: Daily Times
Date:12/2/2007
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