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Friends holding a seminar on devolution of power

Recorder Report

LAHORE: Foundation for Research on International Environment, National Development and Security (Friends) is organising a one-day seminar on "Devolution of Power- An Imperative for Stable Democracy in Pakistan" on March 31, 2000.

Friends' Coordinator for Punjab, Mohammad Mehdi said in a statement on Thursday that lack of political stability is a lingering malady, which has rendered us weak and vulnerable. The praetorian syndrome has not let democratic institutions gain strength and viability. Even when democratic governments functioned, their style of governance was no different from dictatorship, he said and added that there has been a tendency to gain absolute power by the leaders at the helm of affairs.

Even though the concept of autonomy for provinces does not exist under the federal structure of our constitution, in reality it has never been translated in to action.

He said that people have hardly been involved in the decision making process at all levels of governance. Their participation and involvement was only reduced to the polling booths, whenever elections were held. Devolution of power at all levels was the basic imperative without which democracy could not function in the real sense of the term.

The seminar, therefore, would deliberate upon the issues with respect to the minimum qualification of the candidates and limitation of seats for women and minorities and whether elections be held on joint or separate electorate basis as well as several other issues, which need to be resolved through debate and avoid taking hasty and ad hoc decisions.