PESHAWAR
Political experts here Thursday said that democracy returned to the country after a lot of sacrifices by the democratic forces and close coordination among state institutions were vital for smooth conduct of free, fair and transparent elections.
Malik Azamat Khan, former Minister for State, told APP that Pakistani politicians including PPP leadership had paid heavy price in the struggle for restoration of democracy, supremacy of constitution and their sacrifices would not go in vain.
“A two-time elected Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto embraced Shahadat at Liaquat Bagh but never compromised on the right of people and democratic values and her matchless sacrifices brought democracy back to the country,” he said.
He said Quaid e Awam Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Shaheed were hanged to death after an unfair trial while another two elected Prime Ministers including Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani and Mian Nawaz Sharif were disqualified in a suomoto cases.
The PPP leader said it would have been better if a full court bench of SC was constituted on PTI’s election petition pertaining to elections in KP and Punjab assemblies so that the prevailing controversies could have been resolved forever.
Professor Dr Ejaz Khan of the International Relations Department told APP that all state institutions including legislature, executive and judiciary derived power from the constitution and if it worked under its constitutional domain the country would not achieve heights of success but its stature in comity of nation would also increase immensely.
Dr Ejaz said the parliament was the supreme institution that makes the legislature for the country while the judiciary interprets the constitution and executive implement the decisions. He said institutional harmony was inevitable to the ship of democracy forward and take the country out of existing economic and political challenges.
Esa Khan, former Advocate General KP said it would be better if the aggrieved parties including PDM file review petition before SC in PTI’s KP-Punjab election petition. Talking to APP, he said that constraints among institutions would help strengthen democracy and allow smooth transition of power.
PMLN spokesman, Ikhtair Wali said that PTI had never reciprocated to the good dialogue offer of the coalition government and made a mockery of it. “I questioned whether Imran Niazi would accept election results if PMLN wins in Punjab and KP,” he said.
He said that one man could not be allowed to play with democracy and state institutions. He said that simultaneous elections would help strengthen democracy and save a huge amount for the national kitty. He said that a huge amount would be spent if separate elections were held in the country.
