{"id":6816,"date":"2014-08-06T09:52:10","date_gmt":"2014-08-06T09:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hrcp-web.org\/hrcpweb\/?p=6816"},"modified":"2021-12-17T09:53:31","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T09:53:31","slug":"hrcp-not-impressed-by-no-holds-barred-fight-for-gaddi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrcp-web.org\/hrcpweb\/hrcp-not-impressed-by-no-holds-barred-fight-for-gaddi\/","title":{"rendered":"HRCP not impressed by no-holds-barred fight for gaddi"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lahore<\/em><\/strong>, August 5:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed alarm at an \u201cexaggerated hassle over who should occupy the\u00a0gaddi<\/em>\u201d leading to total neglect of the affairs of the state. It has called upon the government to focus on the real issues of the people and urged those seeking to pressurise the government through marching onIslamabad\u00a0and other plans to realise the danger their actions have brought about for the country\u2019s shaky democratic edifice.<\/p>\n

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commission said: \u201cAs the drumbeat for the so-called Azadi march and other tactics aimed at mounting pressure on the government quickens, it is clear that none of the many parties to this spectacle is blameless. The government has made the mistake of not engaging with Imran Khan when he raised the question of rigging in four constituencies and instead of working out a political solution, they are seeking extra-political escape routes. The government has also made the mistake of treating Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri as major threats when its real threat comes from a failure or lack of interest in appropriately addressing people\u2019s grievances related to lawlessness, targeted killing, sectarian violence, killing of human rights defenders and unemployment. The ground that Imran Khan is invoking for marching on\u00a0Islamabad\u00a0is not broadly acceptable and he has made the mistake of over-committing himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr Qadri and Imran Khan are wrong in assuming that their tactics would not harm representative governance and the government is wrong in assuming that the people can be forced to fight for a non-functional democracy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a consensus that there was considerable mismanagement of the general elections but also that they were largely free of the official interference that had been witnessed in the past. In any case, complaints of malpractice have to be weighed against the respect democratic institutions must enjoy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe demand for early elections in democracy can be valid but it must rest on the government\u2019s failure to deliver and the ability of the other party to present plausible alternatives. In\u00a0Pakistan\u2019s peculiar circumstances, we are still trying to establish the primary foundation of democracy and rocking it at this stage will only serve the interest of the extra-constitutional forces.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Commission feels very strongly about the exaggerated hassle over who should occupy the\u00a0gaddi\u00a0<\/em>and over the affairs of the state being neglected week after week. The attention of the people and not just the rulers and their adversaries has been captivated by this drawn out spectacle \u2013 a huge loss of human resources and time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is time that everyone returned to their posts and looked at the many pressing concerns of the citizenry, including internal displacement, armed conflict in the country, and the state of law and order and economy and tried to restorePakistan\u2019s plunging reputation in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zohra Yusuf<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chairperson<\/p>\n

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