Democracy a must for Indo-Pak peace: PPPP
NEW DELHI: The Pakistan Peopleââ¬â¢s Party (PPP) has said that the peace process between Pakistan and India would gain impetus only under a democratically-elected government in Islamabad.
Concluding its three-day visit to India on Wednesday, the six-member PPP delegation said that a democratic government led by the party could have handled sensitive issues between the two countries in a ââ¬Åbetter and more honourable mannerââ¬Â than the current military government. Amin Fahim, who led the delegation, said that the PPP had long been advocating tripartite talks on the Kashmir issue. including the Kashmiri leadership as well as that of India and Pakistan, he said.
ââ¬ÅPrime Minister Manmohan Singh told us that India and Pakistan should work closely to fight terrorism and poverty,ââ¬Â Fahim said.
He said that the PPP delegation had also apprised Indian leaders of the upcoming meeting between Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. The two leaders are scheduled to meet in London on May 14 to sign a ââ¬ËCharter of Democracy, he said.
Amin Fahim said that the Charter would be a ââ¬Åroadmapââ¬Â for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan. ââ¬ÅWhen it is ready, we will consult other parties in the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy for its ratification,ââ¬Â he said.
He said that the delegation had twice met leaders of BJP, but had been unable to meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi. ââ¬ÅWe tried, but were told that she was busy in preparations for state elections. We will meet her when we visit again. This is not our last visit,ââ¬Â said a member of the delegation.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C05%5C11%5Cstory_11-5-2006_pg7_2
NEW DELHI: The Pakistan Peopleââ¬â¢s Party (PPP) has said that the peace process between Pakistan and India would gain impetus only under a democratically-elected government in Islamabad.
Concluding its three-day visit to India on Wednesday, the six-member PPP delegation said that a democratic government led by the party could have handled sensitive issues between the two countries in a ââ¬Åbetter and more honourable mannerââ¬Â than the current military government. Amin Fahim, who led the delegation, said that the PPP had long been advocating tripartite talks on the Kashmir issue. including the Kashmiri leadership as well as that of India and Pakistan, he said.
ââ¬ÅPrime Minister Manmohan Singh told us that India and Pakistan should work closely to fight terrorism and poverty,ââ¬Â Fahim said.
He said that the PPP delegation had also apprised Indian leaders of the upcoming meeting between Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. The two leaders are scheduled to meet in London on May 14 to sign a ââ¬ËCharter of Democracy, he said.
Amin Fahim said that the Charter would be a ââ¬Åroadmapââ¬Â for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan. ââ¬ÅWhen it is ready, we will consult other parties in the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy for its ratification,ââ¬Â he said.
He said that the delegation had twice met leaders of BJP, but had been unable to meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi. ââ¬ÅWe tried, but were told that she was busy in preparations for state elections. We will meet her when we visit again. This is not our last visit,ââ¬Â said a member of the delegation.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C05%5C11%5Cstory_11-5-2006_pg7_2