Pak needs to strengthen democracy: Asma

Pakistan Human Rights Commission Chairperson, Asma Jehangir said there was a need to strengthen the democratic set up in Pakistan to uproot terrorism and have a healthy relations with India.

Asma, who was here to address a seminar on ‘Challenges of Terrorism and Role of Religion’ at the S.R. Government College, said: “War is no solution to the present Indo-Pak tension after the Mumbai terror strikes. Democracy in Pakistan is weak and the military influence is still there, which is playing a negative role.”

There is a need for the composite dialogue process to continue as the common people of both the countries want it. Terrorists will be demoralized if people continue exchange programmes, she added.

Having a go at USA, Asma said, “Pakistan is today suffering a lot due to the US and I appeal that India must see that the US is an honest broker before relying on it. This is an Indo-Pak issue and they must tackle it.” Demanding a joint mechanism to fight terrorism, Asma said, “Both the nations must relax visa norms for improvement in relations.”

Also present from Pakistan, Imtiaz Alam, secretary general of South Asia Free Media association, said: “Even Pakistan is badly hit by terrorism. It’s true that Ajmal Kasab hails from Pakistan and Pakistan must cooperate with India to get the guilty punished.”

In fact, all SAARC nations must form a joint investigating agency and have a common court for trial of such militants, he added.

The duo will be in Delhi from January 21 to 24 to talk to NGO’s and common people about Indo-Pak relations.

Noted writer Kuldeep Nayar voicing the same concern said war was not the solution but added that the Pakistani Army played a role in the recent terror attacks.

First Published: Jan 12, 2009 00:31 IST