End of Musharraf rule nears: I A Rehman

The end of Musharraf rule is near, as a nation can not be subjugated for ever, stated Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Director I A Rehman here on Thursday. He was speaking during a seminar on 'Crisis of Governance and Future of Federation', which was organised by South Asia Partnership-Pakistan.
More than 200 participants from different walk of life across country attended the seminar. During his speech, I A Rehman said Pakistan was passing through a great crisis as the sense of deprivation is growing alarmingly in the small provinces.
"Dialogue and mutual exchange of view is the only way that could bring together people across the country while it would also create sense of ownership among the masses of small provinces, he added.
He said, "Political parties need to be strengthened as these are the true vehicle of change and can ensure continuation of political process. It is essential to ensure active participation of the people in the coming election, as democracy was vital for our survival".
Jami Chandio said unfortunately state institutions were not people representative that had developed present crisis in the country. He said political audit was absent, which had provided an opportunity to the civil and military bureaucracy to strengthen hold on the political institutions. "No institution, including the army in Pakistan, was independent or sovereign. Senate needs to be made powerful as it was the representative of federation," he added.
Professor Ejaz Khattak from Peshawar said the war being fought on the land of Pukhtuns was a foreign agenda and our blood was being shed only for different international interests. He cited American, Arab, Chinese and Indian interests in this regard. He was of the view that nature and character of armed forces was the same all over the world that could not be changed or modified. "Therefore the issue was to have political control over it," he added.
Sourat Mari from Quetta expressed fear that Pakistan could disintegrate if provincial autonomy was not transferred to the provinces. During the event, in their presentations, each provincial group emphasised on the provincial autonomy, restoration of democracy and end of military rule in the country. They expressed that centralisation of power was the root cause of present turmoil faced by Pakistan.