Daily Times

LAHORE: The Rwadari Tehreek has urged Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan who is also the awaiting prime minister to fully implement the National Action Plan (NAP) and make long term plans to decrease intolerance and extremist mindset from the society.

In an open letter written by Rwadari Tehreek Chairman Samson Salamat, it was demanded to pay special attention to socially uplift the weaker segments of the society including women, children, minorities, labourers and workers, stop violence against women and children and ensure reasonable wages for the working class. Samson Salamat also noted that the minorities have suffered hugely due to religious discrimination, biases and violence and therefore an effective policy and strategy is required to stop religiously motivated discrimination and violence.

After congratulating PTI Chairman Imran Khan for victory in General Elections 2018, Rwadari Tehreek hoped that Pakistan will move forward as a prosperous country despite countless challenges which will require hardwork as well as cooperation from the state institutions.

Rwadari Tehreek’s other suggestions and recommendations included that all state institutions should follow and work in accordance with their role defined in the Constitution of Pakistan and ensure that there is no undue interference. The supremacy of the elected parliament should be respected and all parliamentarians should perform their role as law-makers only and not taking up development projects/schemes.

They also demanded that Provincial Autonomy guaranteed through 18th Amendment should be implemented in letter and spirit and there should be more initiatives to address the grievances of the provinces.

“Bring reforms to strengthen democratic institutions, especially the Election Commission of Pakistan to make it independent and transparent to avoid political unrest in future,” it was stated.

It was also stated that the country needs an effective local government system and therefore, well consulted local government system should be introduced and put in place through elections on priority basis. Special measures should be taken for economic growth.

The Rwadari Tehreek also mentioned that there is an urgent need to revisit the Constitution of Pakistan to make sure that there are no discriminations and biases and all citizens are equal constitutionally on the concept of equal citizenship.

The minorities have suffered hugely due to religious discrimination, biases and violence and therefore an effective policy and strategy is required to stop religiously motivated discrimination and violence.

Demanding the implementation of NAP, the Rwadari Tehreek observed that it is urgently required and make sure that the banned terrorist outfits get no favours and rather they are dealt with a zero tolerance policy. The Tehreek also demanded that a long term plan should be made to decrease intolerance and extremist mindset from the society which may include reforms in the educational curriculum and an effective ban on hate speech and materials which triggers violence.

Salamat’s open letter further said that humanity and respect of human rights should be the priority and therefore all human rights guaranteed in the International Human Rights Standards and Constitution of Pakistan should be respected and guaranteed.

“Our country has a very strategic geo-political importance regionally and internationally, and therefore she needs a very competent team to deal with the foreign affairs in order to build the national image of the country and to initiate a friendly dialogue process, especially with our neighbouring countries.”

Published in Daily Times, July 29^th 2018.