National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser said that democracy contributes powerfully to economic and social progress, international peace and security as well as respect for fundamental rights and freedom. He said that democracy was essential to achieve fundamental goals of peace, human rights and development. He said this in his message on the International Democracy Day being commemorated across the world under the auspices of the United Nations on Friday. The speaker said that democracy was a universal value, based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives. In order to achieve this objective, it is incumbent upon the political leadership to shun their political differences and join hands to strengthen the democratic process in the country. The beauty of democracy is that it finds indigenous solutions to the complex problems bedevilling the polity. It encourages participation of citizens who are the real stakeholders, in taking charge of their lives. The public participation and ownership of state policies is the bedrock of democracy, the speaker added. He said democracy is underpinned by the principle of consensus within diverse sets of opinion. Hence, it creates unity in diversity and diversity in unity in a linguistically, ethnically and sub-culturally broad context. The speaker reaffirmed that continuous electoral process ensures a democratic dispensation in the Pakistan. On the occasion, NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri has said that democracy is strengthening in Pakistan and all the progressive political forces were united on the issues of national importance and the Parliament is actively engaged in the welfare of the masses. He said successive derailing of democracy in past has badly hampered the growth and development of institutions in the country. Democracy is the only way to guarantee our stability and to ensure our economic and social progress, he said. Published in Daily Times, September 15th 2018.