Only democratic Pakistan ensure US, security: Pakistani MPs
By Khalida Mazhar 'Pakistan Times' US Bureau Chief

WASHINGTON (US): The security of both Pakistan and the United States can be guaranteed only if democracy is secure in Pakistan, members of the country’s Parliament told a Washington think tank.

“The United States’ relationship should be broad-based and with the Pakistani people,” Senator Rukhsana Zuberi of Pakistan Peoples Party said deliberating at a conference on ‘Pakistan: Advancing Democracy and Security.’

Speaking to a gathering of US experts, diplomats and civil society representatives at National Endowment for Democracy, she underscored security does not lie in relationships with personalities but in relationship with democratic forces.

The US, she said, can improve its image in Pakistan if it reaches out to the people who have voted for democracy.

“In the current scenario, the coalition parties have joined hands together and the prime minister got 100 percent votes in winning confidence of the Lower House is an unprecedented positive situation.”

The senator acknowledged an array of challenges facing the coalition government ranging from energy to economic issues but saw a ray of hope for progress.

Khurram Dastgir Khan, a PML(N) member of the National Assembly that emerged from landmark February 18 elections identified three major challenges for the new government: how to establish civilian supremacy so that the Parliament defines what is in national interest; facing off challenges from theocratic elements which can be called tension between constitutionalism and theocracy joined by extremists; and thirdly, the political parties’ moving away from personalities to become genuine institutions in order to serve the masses.

Of US assistance for the country, he underlined, it should be seen as doing good to the people on ground.

Zafarullah Khan, Executive Director, Center for Civic Education, touched on recent awakening of the civil society. He referred to the current democratic climate and urged “we need to work a lot to capitalize on the window of opportunity for sustained democratic development of Pakistan.”

The Pakistani people, he informed the American audience, have sacrificed a lot for the cause of democracy. In the February 18 polls, he said, the Pakistani people voted overwhelmingly for democratic parties. Of the 34.5 million votes cast, less than one million went to religious parties.

Another member of the visiting Pakistani delegation, Jami Chandio, Executive Director at Center for Peace and Civil Society advocated for provincial autonomy and welcomed the leadership’s avowed commitment in this respect.

He said provincial autonomy would strengthen democracy and help bring development. The participants also highlighted the role of the media and the political workers in reawakening the civil society.●