http://www.dawn.com/2001/01/23/nat19.htm
LAHORE, Jan 22: The 1973 Constitution is no longer in existence because of the massive distortions made in it by the late general Ziaul Haq, lawyers and politicians told a meeting held here on Monday to observe the 13th death anniversary of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan.
Advocate Abid Hassan Minto of the Pakistan Workers Party said the existing constitution, which has partially been held in abeyance, is 'the 1985 constitution' given to the country by Gen Zia. Even otherwise, he said, democracy has no meaning in a feudal set-up. Pakistan fought 'an American war' in Afghanistan for 10 years for no corresponding gain. It only increased its national debt, the foreign component of which now stands at $58 billion.
The World Bank and the IMF, the lawyer-politician said, are new tools of imperialism and foreign debt a new instrument of oppression. For certain illusory strategic objectives, Pakistan has been converted into a 'security state', though it was intended to be a social welfare state. Eighty per cent of the national budget', he claimed and deplored, is spent on defence and the army has become the final political arbiter routinely invited to assume power.
PPP Secretary-General Jahangir Badar said no democratic system can last long unless it is based on the people's aspirations and at least aims to address their basic needs.
ANP Senior vice-president Ehsan Wyne said the accountability process should be extended to military officers. The top generals should also be asked to account for the real estate worth millions of rupees acquired by them. The salary they get does not justify purchase of expensive residential and commercial plots.
Former deputy speaker of the NWFP assembly Haji Adeel said those who broke up the country are ruling the roost again. The Pakistan Army, unlike its Turkish counterpart, had no role in the independence of the country yet it seeks a decisive say in the country's governance.
Held in the Lahore High Court Bar Association auditorium, the meeting was also addressed by Advocate Qureshi Muhammad Hafeez, Syed Manzoor Ali Gilani (Istiqlal Party), Syed Almas Haider, Maj Akhtar (retired), ANP's Sohail Akhtar Malik and S A Rahman, PML's Jahangir Ashraf Vaince, suspended MNA Anwarul Haq Ramay, suspended PMA Moazzam Wattoo and PPP's Ziaul Qamar Bhatti and Tanvir Qureshi.
LAHORE, Jan 22: The 1973 Constitution is no longer in existence because of the massive distortions made in it by the late general Ziaul Haq, lawyers and politicians told a meeting held here on Monday to observe the 13th death anniversary of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan.
Advocate Abid Hassan Minto of the Pakistan Workers Party said the existing constitution, which has partially been held in abeyance, is 'the 1985 constitution' given to the country by Gen Zia. Even otherwise, he said, democracy has no meaning in a feudal set-up. Pakistan fought 'an American war' in Afghanistan for 10 years for no corresponding gain. It only increased its national debt, the foreign component of which now stands at $58 billion.
The World Bank and the IMF, the lawyer-politician said, are new tools of imperialism and foreign debt a new instrument of oppression. For certain illusory strategic objectives, Pakistan has been converted into a 'security state', though it was intended to be a social welfare state. Eighty per cent of the national budget', he claimed and deplored, is spent on defence and the army has become the final political arbiter routinely invited to assume power.
PPP Secretary-General Jahangir Badar said no democratic system can last long unless it is based on the people's aspirations and at least aims to address their basic needs.
ANP Senior vice-president Ehsan Wyne said the accountability process should be extended to military officers. The top generals should also be asked to account for the real estate worth millions of rupees acquired by them. The salary they get does not justify purchase of expensive residential and commercial plots.
Former deputy speaker of the NWFP assembly Haji Adeel said those who broke up the country are ruling the roost again. The Pakistan Army, unlike its Turkish counterpart, had no role in the independence of the country yet it seeks a decisive say in the country's governance.
Held in the Lahore High Court Bar Association auditorium, the meeting was also addressed by Advocate Qureshi Muhammad Hafeez, Syed Manzoor Ali Gilani (Istiqlal Party), Syed Almas Haider, Maj Akhtar (retired), ANP's Sohail Akhtar Malik and S A Rahman, PML's Jahangir Ashraf Vaince, suspended MNA Anwarul Haq Ramay, suspended PMA Moazzam Wattoo and PPP's Ziaul Qamar Bhatti and Tanvir Qureshi.
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