The government must invest in dams and construct large water reservoirs to save Water and avoid devastating floods into the country, and put all their energies and resources towards the rescue, relief and rehabilitation process of the flood victims.
The government must hold local body elections to transfer power and resources to the people at the grass root level. The government must also stop arresting people attending the anti-government sit-in at Islamabad on political grounds for the strengthening of the democracy. These demands were made by the participants of a rally entitled "Democracy for Peace and Human Rights" to mark international day of democracy held in front of press club in Faisalabad. The rally was jointly staged by the Peace and Human Development (PHD), Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM), Centre for Human Rights Education (CHRE) and Adara Samaji Behbood (ASB), and joined by people hailing from different communities and different socio-economic background. The participants were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour of democracy and in opposition to dictatorship.
Speaking on the occasion, the director of the AWAM, Nazia Sardar said, "The existing constitutional, legal and administrative system for the conduct of elections is inadequate to meet internationally accepted standards of electoral freedom, fairness, neutrality and transparency. Therefore, comprehensive electoral reforms must be introduced to prevent the rigging and enhance the quality of future elections.
The director of the PHD Foundation, Suneel Malik said, "The ultimate goal of democracy is to preserve and promote dignity and fundamental rights of the individual, achieve social cohesion and justice and foster economic and social development to ensure social stability and wellbeing of people. Therefore, government must hold local body elections so that power could be passed on to the people at the grass root level and fruit of democracy could reach the common people."
A human rights activist, Naseem Anthony said, "The foundation-stone of participatory democracy should be laid by carving out new provinces including Hazara, Gilgit-Baltistan, South Punjab, and FATA on administrative basis that should deliver rights to the people at their doorstep."
A social activist, Irshad Parkash said, "Floods have not only caused damage to human life, but also resulted in harming precious agricultural land, infrastructure and wildlife habitat. The need of the hour is to have a pertinent flood forecasting and management strategy of water resources for minimising the ravaging effects of the floods and for the agricultural and economic future of Pakistan."
An educationist, Touhid Ahmed said, "In a democratic system, the people as a whole have equal rights on national resources. It is unfortunate that the real democracy could not take roots in our country during the past 67 years, and the successive governments have failed to pay attention to solving the basic problems of the public."
A social activist, Tahir Iqbal said, "We believe that solution to the current crises in Pakistan is possible in the continuation of a democratic system; therefore we will defend democracy, will welcome any change within democratic framework in accordance with the constitution, and will reject any extra-constitutional ways and means in the name of political change."
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