Senator S. M. Zafar has stated constitutional amendments cannot improve socio-economic conditions or alleviate country's security concerns, rather they at best transfer powers from one state functionary to the other, while only justice and good governance can ensure relief and welfare of the masses.
He was expressing these views at a seminar organised by the Pakistan National Forum (PNF) at a local hotel here on Sunday, held under the chairmanship of Air Chief Marshal Zafar A Chaudhry (Retd). Former Governors General Khalid Maqbool, General Muhammad Iqbal Malik, Lieutenant General Naseer Akhtar (Retd), Lieutenant General Afzal Najeeb (Retd), Air Vice Marshal Farooq Umer (Retd), Major General Wajahat Hussain Syed (Retd) and Air Marshal Amjad Hussain (Retd) also attended the seminar.
Senator S. M. Zafar regretted that presently corruption has spread from the lowest to the highest bureaucratic and state functionary. The real ailment beneath all our crises is widespread corruption. President Zardari is repeating the same mistake that General Musharraf had committed ie holding both the offices of President of the country and party chairmanship. He should retain Presidential Office, giving up the PPP chairmanship.
NRO was formulated to bring about national reconciliation by covering up graft charges of political and establishment figures. That is why the government did not oppose it before the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court verdict on NRO has paved way for opening up of President Zardari's Swiss cases, which can lead to a Pandora box ultimately. This has strained relations between the Executive and the judiciary. The best course for all concerned is to respect judgements of the apex court in letter and spirit, he added.
Fakhar Imam said our taxation system has failed to generate enough resources, while the entire nation is trapped in rapidly multiplying foreign debts. During Musharraf era media could not criticise rulers as openly and bitterly as it is doing at present. Despite criticism, Zardari is the first President who succeeded in soliciting support from all provinces for his election to Presidency. Nobody in the past could get such a unanimous vote of support. Today the Punjab Assembly is supporting construction of Kala Bagh Dam, while the remaining three provinces are unanimous in their opposition to this vital dam. However, if consensus could be built on NFC award it can also be displayed for Kala Bagh Dam.
Already the expression of solidarity shown by political parties in passage of 18th amendment has become a symbol of our national consensus. In reply to a question by Major General Kh. Rahat Latif (Retd), Shamshad replied US believes it has a right to resort to any type of action to protect its interests. However, in present day world without the backing of Security Council it is not possible to launch a military action against any UN member country.
Referring to NATO forces border violations, he said we should have sent special envoys to major capitals of the world and taken up their matter with the UNO. Replying to Air Marshal Khursheed Anwar Mirza's (Retd) question Shamshad observed Americans should respect our legitimate concerns to make partnership mutually beneficial. In reply to Major General Sabi-uddin Bokhari's (Retd) question about role of Pakistani Think Tanks, Shamshad regretted that for the last 63 years all decisions were taken in individual capacities whether there was democracy or dictatorship in the country. General Khalid Maqbool said the country has weakened in every respect to such an extent that we cannot put up a strong defence on any issue before foreign powers, nor we can pass two and a half days without foreign aid but we are demonstrating empty emotionalism and we want to become a world power without even promoting habit of standing in queues.
Former federal secretary Tasleem Noorani stated our rulers think that their chair is dependent upon American support but our national security interests are more important than US interests. Only a government enjoying entire nation's backing can take such a bold stance.
Regarding Karachi mayhem, he said only depoliticized government machinery could ensure durable peace and order in Karachi. It is surprising that 30 persons are murdered in a single day and no one is apprehended, nor anyone lodges an FIR or investigation is conducted next day.
The whole thing smacks of lack of political will on the part of political leadership. Giving his concluding remarks Air Marshal Zafar Chaudhry (Retd) stated when Pakistan came into being, we had great hopes while 90 percent population was honest and people were well wisher of the country. But there is hardly any private or public segment today, which is not corrupt to the core. Something is fundamentally wrong with our system, which begs for complete overhauling of the same.
Later, President PNF, Colonel Ikram Ullah Khan expressed his gratitude to the guest speakers and the participants for their keen interest in making the proceedings meaningful and successful.