LAHORE – Former National Assembly Speaker Syed Fakhar Imam has said that change in Pakistan can be brought only through vote by ensuring the free and fair election and continuity of democratic process.
Presiding over a seminar at Hameed Nizami Press Institute of Pakistan (HNPIP) on Friday, the veteran politician held that the financial dishonesty is directly linked with intellectual dishonesty. He was of the view that no nation could gain glory until its leaders gave priority to the national interest over their personal ones. But in case of Pakistan, he regretted, the situation is different and we were pacing towards decline with every passing day.
PTI leader Rear Admiral (r) Javed Iqbal and PML-N MNA Shaikh Rohail Asghar, PML-Q MPA Amna Ulfat, Nawa-e-Waqt Chief News Editor Dilawar Chaudhary and columnist Mansha Qazi were the speakers of the seminar “Politics and Morality – Role of Media.” HNPIP Director Absar Abdul Ali was the moderator.
 “Balochistan is on fire and until we engage the people of the province in decision making process, the problem will continue,” predicted Fakhar Imam. Putting examples of the top world economies of the world and giving date to date references of process they adopted to strengthen their financial health, the politician said that development could not be achieved by mere tall claims and by arranging sittings and seminars but practical and solid steps with political will were required to achieve it.
“Alone United States shares 22 per cent to the world’s GDA but entire Muslim world generate not more than four to five per cent of the growth,” he said.
“China gained independence two years after Pakistan’s creation and where the Chinese stand now as compared to us; and it is also a fact that India is emerging as regional power but what we did in last 60 years?” he questioned.
“We could not hold general election until after 30 years of independence. Only one of the country’s university falls in the list of world top 500 universities but shamefully we are raising mere slogans,” he mourned. But, despite all the prevailing crises, added Mr Imam, the brilliance can be achieved by making strong the democratic system and by giving the people full right to choose their representatives through fair election.
Javed Iqbal stressed to look towards the Quran and Sunnah for the solution of the country’s problems. He held responsible the elites of the country, which he said were also there in his party (PTI) as well, for the people’s problems and urged the masses to join hands against the corrupt mafia.