2 weeks Ago By Mudassir Raja
Rawalpindi - All political parties of the country need to come together to work out a mechanism for free and fair elections. There has been a dire need of having uncontroversial elections since the creation of Pakistan. This was stated by Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan here on Thursday while addressing lawyers at Rawalpindi district bar association.
The governor was invited by Peoples Lawyer Forum (PLF) Rawalpindi, legal wing of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), to address the law practitioners of the garrison city. In the parliamentary system, the government elected through general vote needs to complete its constitutional term without facing the allegations of election fraud and rigging. It is a pity that the politicians have so far failed to put together a system to make the election process free and fair, the governor said.
Highlighting the weak democracy in the country, the PPP leader said that completion of constitutional terms and consistency in the government policies were necessary to make Pakistan flourish. The consistency is not possible without having a credible government in place that works to implement its economic policy without hurdles, the governor underscored. “The political parties need to take a lesion from legal fraternity of the county.
The non-controversial and consistent elections of the bar associations and councils is testimony of democratic spirit vindicated by the law practitioners,” said Sardar Saleem. He added that the lawyers could guide the major political parties on how to chalk out the fraud-free election process. Highlighting the system disruptions and alleged conspiracies against the political governments in the past, the governor stressed the need to have fair elections and stable governments for progress and prosperity.
He said that it was the PPP that had faced utmost political challenges and conspiracies. From hanging of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the party had also faced an onslaught of suo moto notices during its stint from 2008 to 2013. He urged that it was the need of the hour to put an end to all conspiracies against the elected governments and political parties.
In the end, he thanked the PLF representatives, Shahid Mughal, Sajid Tanoli, Asad Abbasi, and Syed Masood Shah for inviting him to the bar. He also thanked DBA President Sardar Manzer Bashir and DBA General Secretary Malik Asad for hosting him..
