The development of any country will not be realised without a functional, transparent, participatory and accountable democracy. Pakistan is no exception to it US Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker stated this here, on Friday.
The US ambassador spoke on the role of political parties in a democracy at a training workshop for activists of political parties, arranged by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) and Centre for Civic Education Pakistan (CCE) under USAID-funded Political Party Development Programme.
Crocker said, "Political parties are the building blocks of democratic institutions and encouraged the parties and their members "to reflect the diversity of the culture from which they arise".
The theme of the workshop was "Effective party management" and members of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) participated in the workshop.
British Deputy High Commissioner Simon Butt and Ms. Inci Ersoy, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Turkey, also spoke on the occasion.
Simon said, "Parties must forge and maintain genuinely consultative links with the electorate, which must not be neglected when in power. The parties must be professional, making maximum use of new technologies and the media, presenting articulate and educated office holders, and well thought out policy proposals."
The US ambassador said, "In a democracy the struggle between political parties is not a fight for survival, but a competition to serve the people."
He said, "In US parties recognise that political views are fluid and changeable and that consensus can often arise out of the clash of ideas and values in peaceful, free, and public debate. Political parties play an essential democratising function by acting as a link between the state and the society by trying to stitch together diverse interests into coherent platforms. They also recruit and train leaders for public office. This role does not change and cannot be filled by other organisations," he added.
In discussing the most important lessons from the American political party experience, Crocker said, "Whether or not a party holds the presidency, a state governorship or a majority of seats in national or state legislatures, each owes loyalty and respect to the institutions of the country.
"Secondly, while political parties may hold particular beliefs, these beliefs are periodically revisited and updated to ensure that they reflect the views and values of that portion of the electorate the party wants to appeal to. These beliefs become campaign issues - and issues, not personalities, should drive the campaign. Thirdly, the parties need to find a way to get things accomplished."