Minister for Environment, Hamidullah Jan Afridi on Monday said that strong democracy was inevitable for economic growth and infrastructure development. "Let democracy take strong roots for well being and welfare of our people and economic progress," he told APP in his comments in connection with World Democracy Day falling February 18.
He said people of Pakistan voted for democracy in February 18, 2008 elections and proved that dictatorship was no solution to their sufferings. "This change rescued masses from the clutches of dictatorship and we need to promote this culture for strengthening democracy," he said.
The minister appreciated the working relationship between the government and the opposition and said, it is better for democracy and it would be government's endeavours to erase the imprints of dictatorship from our politics.
"It was for the first time in country's history that both treasury and opposition benches reposed confidence in the Prime Minister," he said. He said this time opposition is also playing a positive role and it is not criticising the government for the sake of criticism.
"This is a positive change and both the treasury and opposition should continue with it for better changes," he said. To a question, Afridi said, it is right of the present government to complete five years in office. "They should be given opportunity to deliver. Just a year cannot be enough to bring about overall change."
He said things are changing gradually and called upon the political parties to carry forward their agenda and manifesto, and implement them effectively. When asked about the future of democracy, he said, in the past the democratic governments were not given ample time to deliver. "But, with the completion of tenure by the previous government, we hope, this government would also complete five years in power," he said.