Demand for new provinces is justified, says Aitzaz

18 Apr, 2010

Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan on Saturday said that the demand for new provinces was justified, which would strengthen the federation with devolution of power to a lower level of the society. Answering to a question after his lecture at a programme, which The Civil Society of Pakistan organised at the auditorium of Defence Central Library, he said that there was no harm in formation of new units rather they would strengthen the federation.
Media was informed that he would deliver a speech on the topic of "Ramifications of the NRO Judgement", but at the conclusion of his lecture he pointed out that he had not been informed about the subject.
He, however, claimed to speak on the issue in detail but escaped the question about the NRO judgement. The audience until the end of his lecture were expecting to hear something about the issue from the Lahore-based lawyer. Earlier, Aitzaz urged the small elite section of the society to engage with the natives to bring a positive change in the country's socio-politico setup. He criticised the feudal lords for availing maximum benefits without any returns to the society and the country.
He also regretted over the shrinking exports of the country because of downturn manufacturing activities, besides poor law and order situation, low literacy rate and dual education systems, which had pervaded the society. He said that the rich class, despite receiving global standard education in the country, always indented to move abroad to serve Europe and North America, which was a dilemma.
The skilled labour also moves abroad, whereas the country should not celebrate the billion dollars of annual remittances, which the Pakistan citizens earn in the Middle East for cleaning "toilets". The barrister said that there was still a need for changing the British era mindsets of the elite class, while the businessmen community should not export raw material to the west rather make it value-added to earn greater profit.
He expressed fears over the dwindling water resources in the country, saying that India was building dams on rivers as an upper riparian, which could deprive the lower riparian from a needed volume of water in its rivers. Aitzaz also said that the domestic violence and intolerance in both rural and urban spheres had also weakened the society, while women for being vulnerable greatly subjected to the power and control mentality of the men.

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