Islamabad,

The Pakistan Peoples Party Secretary General Jahangir Badar has said that democracy is a continuous process and requires cooperation from all political forces.

Mr Badar was responding to PML-N Leader Mian Nawaz Sharif's press conference in London where Mr Sharif  doubted  intentions of Pakistan Peoples Party not to implement Charter of Democracy.

"Democracy comes from political conviction, and no leaders in Pakistan personify this commitment topwards democracy better than Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and President Asif Ali Zardari, Mr Badar said in Islamabad today.

"Shaheed Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma not only spent their lives struggling for democracy, they also laid down their lives, but did not bow before the dictators to seek life of convenience. Whether it was General Zia or General Musharraf, no PPP leader traded off the cause of democracy to the temptation of life of comfort in foreign shores. PPP Co Chairperson Mr Asif Ali Zardari spent 11 years of his life in the prison without any conviction. Yet, he and Shaheed Mohtarma refused to compromise on the politics of principles."

Mr Jehangir Badar said that it would be most unfortunate if the hard earned democracy that came from the sacrifices of PPP and other political leaders, and countless political workers is compromised for the politics of confrontation. "One fails to understand how the opposition is claiming that the promises of February 18 have not been delivered. The country has a functioning parliament and the decisions it makes are implemented in letter and spirit. Issues related to economy, the social sector and the security challenges are being resolved. The public has faith in the PPP government to rid the country of the biggest challenge to our stability, i.e. terrorism, and the government is actively working to deliver on the agenda of peace. The courts are functioning independently and there is no interference from the government. Anybody, who says that the promises of February 18 elections are not being fulfilled is misleading the nation."

The PPP General Secretary said that the government would not interfere in the court proceedings and the ruling regarding the Sharif eligibility case.

Mr Jehangir Badar said that the success of democracy depends on the ability of political forces to walk together. "Political forces would not only be doing a disservice to the nation, but they would be damaging themselves if they waste this opportunity to the narrow goals of power consolidation. Despite winning the majority, the Pakistan Peoples Party pursued a coalition government because we want the political system to survive and grow into a sustainable institution. We continue to work with the Punjab Government despite negative politics because of our conviction that civilian democracy is the only solution to the country's challenges."

The PPP General Secretary said that President Asif Ali Zardari continues to pursue the process of dialogue and consultation for the resolution of national challenges. "The PPP is absolutely committed to democracy and we have four decades of history of sacrifices to prove that. We owe it to our shaheed leaders to make this system work and President Asif Ali Zardari and the PPP Government are determined to strengthen democracy", he concluded.

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