Sherry Rehman For Collective Efforts For Successful Political Process

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 9:12 am

ISLAMABAD :Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman said that Asif Ali Zardari’s nomination represented the beginning of the PPP’s attempts to unite the federation at a time when the country was facing many challenges.

“In a democratic culture, it was normal to have other parties fielding their candidates and that the government was confident in its numbers needed to win the Presidential election,” she said while talking to newsmen.

In her comments about parting ways from coalition by the PML-N, she said it will cause more damage to Pakistan than to the Pakistan Peoples Party.

“PML-N’s decision to pull out from the coalition is a negative message for process of political reconciliation,” said Sherry Rehman.

She said our coalition was not based on two issues alone rather it was a coalition built by consistent efforts by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto whose visionary leadership saw political process as the only means to restore a democratic order in the country.

It was Mohtarma’s faith in politics for the people that brought her to engage Mian Nawaz Sharif and other political forces of Pakistan to support each other and fight for the supremacy of democracy in the country, she added.

Sherry Rehman said that after Mohtarma’s martyrdom, Mian Nawaz Sharif announced to withdraw from elections.

“It was the PPP that urged the PML-N to contest elections along with us because elections are a first step to democracy. We wanted all political forces to put in collective effort to rid the country of the establishment of non democratic forces,” she said.

“The election results were a vindication of our stand that democracy is indeed the best revenge,” the minister said.

She said that elections and Musharraf’s departure were merely two steps in the move to the restoration of a civilian rule.

“It’s a long journey ahead. All political forces need to show commitment to strengthen the institutions of parliament and democracy in the country,” Sherry said.

“If you are elected into government, you need to stay your term in order to influence the system. The strategy of non participation in the political process or that of embarking on a confrontational path does not serve the interest of the public or help the cause of democracy,” she added.

Sherry said that her party is committed to lead the political process with dignity and transparency. The reconciliation path advocated by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has no room for confrontation.

“We have no intention of reverting to a system of blame game. All political parties that won the 2008 elections have been mandated by their constituencies to implement their agenda and we respect the mandate of the masses,” she said.

The minister said as public representatives, we are duty-bound to fulfil their aspiration for a democratic system guided by parliamentary sovereignty, transparency and accountability.

“We all have to support each other for the success of the political process in the country,” she added.