Raja's Positive move

PRIME Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, during the inauguration ceremony of a hydroelectricity project in Besham, once again invited all political parties to come and sit together ... to find a workable solution to the persisting crisis... He lamented that a dictator ruled the country for 10 years but no one stopped him while all stepstaken by a democratic government are being challenged.

We cannot say how political parties willrespond to the prime minister`s offer, but we are sure that if they do not respond positively no one will be able to stop us from destruction. It is strange that despite the hard experience of dictatorships our politicians fail to develop democratic attitudes.... The sufferers from dictatorship and political confrontation are the people. .

Regrettably our leaders and guides ... are further pushing us to this undesired destination.

One can have hundreds of differences with ... the incum-bent government. Its performance may not be praised, the restoration of the constitution and of the rights of the provinces might be brushed aside, but it deserves credit that it was heading to complete its tenure. No doubt this is a victory for democrats...

[In the past] the attitudes of political parties and their unwise steps were causes forthe imposition of dictatorship. The undemocratic forces always took advantage of this situation. It appears that wehave neither learnt from the past nor want to learn in the future. Otherwise political parties might not be demanding early elections.

However, the prime minister`s offer is a positive sign and we hope political forces will take it with sincerity and cooperate with the government so that the democratic dispensation can complete its destination and heal injuries caused by undemocratic forces. (July 16) • Selected and translated by Sohail Sangi