By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Central Information Secretary Nadeem Afzal Chan on Monday urged political parties to set aside their differences and unite to address the country’s challenges, saying democracy could deliver only when people’s rights and voices were protected.
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Speaking at a seminar titled “When Every Voice Matters, Democracy Delivers,” organised by the Shaheed Bhutto Foundation and Bushra Manzoor Manika, Coordinator to the PPP Central Punjab President, Chan said political parties and their leaders had become a “soft target”.
He called on political workers, civil society and journalists to play their respective roles in strengthening democratic values and protecting constitutional rights.
Chan said citizens should have the right to choose their government peacefully. If that right was curtailed, he said, there was no reason for despair because democratic forces could continue their struggle through constitutional and peaceful means.
“A political worker can contribute as a political worker, a member of civil society through civil society, and a journalist through journalism,” he said.
Chan questions privatisation of public institutions
Chan also questioned the continued transfer of state-owned institutions to private hands, arguing that privatisation had weakened public ownership and the role of the state.
He said the focus should instead be on improving the performance of public institutions and making them more efficient.
Referring to the former Ghee Corporation and government transport services, he said such institutions had once provided essential services to citizens before being privatised.
“If democracy is for the people, then at least the state should remain the property of the people,” he said, calling for a serious public debate on the sale of public assets.
He also questioned restrictions on trade unions, asking why workers were not allowed to organise freely while various organisations were permitted to establish housing societies.
Chan said workers’ right to organise and collectively raise their concerns deserved serious consideration.
Calls for merit-based system
Chan said he did not consider himself part of the elite and opposed a system in which opportunities were concentrated among a privileged few.
He advocated a merit-based system in which ability and competition determined advancement rather than influence or privilege.
He acknowledged that he could not claim to be completely free of personal interests, but said his criticism was directed at the mindset and structure of elitism rather than individuals.
Strong institutions vital for democracy
Chan said the Election Commission, judiciary and other state institutions must function independently and effectively, describing strong institutions as essential to a democratic system.
He urged political workers and citizens to remain optimistic and patient, saying democratic struggle required continued participation and peaceful engagement.
He said people would ultimately be able to secure their constitutional rights through sustained participation in democratic processes.
Concluding his remarks, Chan said democracy belonged to the people and that its fundamental objective should be to ensure that public institutions and state resources served citizens.
The seminar was attended by Barrister Ahmed Pansota, Shaheed Bhutto Foundation CEO Asif Khan, Prof Dr Fareed Zafar, PPP Lahore General Secretary Dr Ayesha Shaukat, senior Jamaat-e-Islami leader Liaquat Baloch, Azain Gulzar, Malik Ali Sanwal, Hassan Abbas, Asjad Malik, Ahmad Ghuman, Shavez Nadeem and organiser Bushra Manzoor Manika.