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Election Commission Should Adopt
‘Charter of Democracy’ As a Basic Document
Since
two former prime ministers, Ms. Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz
Sharif, showed intentions to ink ‘Charter of Democracy’
different political forces are trying to appreciate, criticize,
credit or discredit it.
On May 10th, government’s new
minister for information, apparently slick but shallow in
substance, held a press conference to tell the Pakistani media
that government was not afraid of Charter of Democracy. And
then, like a broken record, he went on talking about former
prime ministers’ past differences and corruption stories.
Someone in the media should have asked this
political chick Mr. Mohammad Ali Durrani that if government was
not afraid of ‘Charter of Democracy’ why the hell he was holding
press conference? Why he was talking about former prime
ministers’ mutual past difference? Why he was repeating their
corruption stories?
We are not here to tell general Musharraf
that this political chick, Mohammad Ali Durrani, will prove the
last nail in his coffin, nor are we here to defend former prime
ministers’ past differences or mistakes.
However, we think ‘Charter of Democracy’ is a
good idea and it is a good document which can help Pakistan over
come its perilous political anomalies.
What we recommend is that Election Commission
should adopt ‘Charter of Democracy’ as a fundamental document,
mandatory to be signed be everyone who wants to contest
election and enter in any upper or lower house of the
parliament. Election Commission should also add penalties for
those who violate the terms and conditions of ‘Charter of
Democracy’ even after getting elected.
Both former prime ministers deserve our
appreciation and congratulations for signing this ‘Charter of
Democracy’. It was need of the time. Pakistani politics needed
this ‘Charter of Democracy’ more than former prime ministers.
Former Prime Minister did a good job on May
28th in 1998. His decision taken on May 28th
1998 saved Pakistan from many naked aggressions even after he
left his office. Now, both former prime ministers have done
another landmark job by signing ‘Charter of Democracy’, which is
going to go a long way in the history of Pakistan.
If Pakistan Election Commission does not
adopt ‘Charter of Democracy’ as a basic document, both former
prime ministers and their parties should make this ‘Charter of
Democracy’ a symbol to make a line of demarcation between pro
democracy and anti democracy forces. They should invite all
political actors in Pakistan to sign this ‘Charter of Democracy’
to show their allegiance with democracy. Anyone, who signs it
should be honored and supported by the people of Pakistan and
anyone who refuses to sign it should be thrown in the dust bin
of history for ever.
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