Politicians and intellectuals feared persisting military role and unnecessary interference in the political powers, manipulating constitution for their interests may lead to damaging the state sovereignty in future course as sentiments of the people are visible now. "Army has been manipulating the country constitution since the day one. Imbalance of power started since the 1971 when we lost the major part of the country," said Syed Fakhr Imam, former speaker National Assembly and veteran politician here on Sunday.
Speaking at a seminar on "National Security and Constitution-Making in Pakistan" organised by a non-government forum Dialogue Pakistan, Syed Fakhr Imam said Rs 390 million budget could not meet our 'National Security' in 1971 and the similar trend is going on.
He said now the time has come and we have yet to evolve political culture for the future.
Mairaj Mohammed Khan said entire system in Pakistan is being operated on foreign aid and loans, which attract civil and military dictatorship. Irony is that Pakistan army could not take lesson from the separation of East Pakistan and it is still involved in manipulation of the constitution.
He urged upon the political thinkers to consider on radical change to make new constitution of the country, which may lead the democratic system, and the supremacy of the law.
He said, parliament is looking powerless because all powers are with general Pervez Musharraf who is authorised to decide economical agreement as well as enhancing relations with the world powers.
Ms Nafeesa Shah, District Nazim Khairpur in her paper said Army is involved in by passing the barriers of the parliament, political parties and even the constitution.
"Pakistan is involved in the war against terrorism not for the its own sake but for the world power. Our frontiers have become frontline of this war and now even our frontiers are not easy to administer," she said.
She said nationalism is increasing in the country because of uncertainty in the smaller provinces over different national level issues that are being neglected by the military rulers here.
Irshad Abdul Kadir, founding member of the Dialogue Pakistan said since the power of the nation is held by he military which today operates a monopolistic corporate interest within the structure of the state similar in scope to any other multinational corporation aspiring to a global power status, the non-military elitists must convince the military of the overriding benefits of constitutional correctness for securing its commitment to the cause.
He said the constitution has been changed, chopped and adapted to accommodate any unconstitutional policy imperative for which the ruling entity, whether military or civil, has required it.
Dr, Adrian A. Husain, Chairman Dialogue Pakistan said the truth is that framing a constitution is one thing but adhering it quite another.
Sindh Education Minister Hameeda Khuhro, Sardar Sherbaz Mazari, Syeda Abida Husain and other veteran politicians and intellectuals attended the seminar.