"Terrorism and extremism are a by-products of military regimes and can be fought best by a democratically elected government". This was stated by the chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in an interview to the Indian newspaper, Hindustan Times. Responding to a question about the Charter of Democracy, Benazir Bhutto said".
The charter goes beyond elections to the pluralistic and accountable society that we dream of creating a moderate, enlightened and flourishing society is implemented. We affirmed that Sharif and I shall return to Pakistan before the general elections and warned that any attempt to stop our homecoming will be a denial of the constitutional right of impartial and free elections". On the topic, she further said, "we resolved that the military dictatorship has brought the federation of Pakistan to the precipice when all but one road leads to strife, chaos and the threat of disintegration.
The federation today is at war with its peoples and itself. The regime today uses brute and naked state force in a war against its own people who demand their constitutional, economic, political and cultural rights. Parliament's sovereignty is vetoed by the National Security Council. Parliament is denied the right to freely formulate policy or to protect the rights of the federating units or intercede in the grave political crisis facing the federation. Parliament has been reduced to a rubber stamp for the chief of army staff who unconstitutionally occupies the office of the President."
In reply to a question about the apprehension of her arrest on her return to the country, Benazir said, "When Musharraf has pardoned the nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan who sold nuclear technology in the international market according to his confession, Musharraf has no moral right to persecute me on unproven allegations that are a decade old. I plan going back irrespective of what Musharraf does. When I was banned from contesting the last elections I did not go back for several reasons. Those elections were too close to 9/11 and Musharraf kept claiming he would not stop my party from forming the government if we won a majority. Well, we did win a majority but Musharraf postponed the parliament and factionalised my party.
Comments
Comments are closed.