Contact after 17-Years: Benazir, Nawaz vow Struggle for Democracy
By Abdul Jabbar - Pakistan Times Special Correspondent

JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia): Pakistan's two ex-Prime Ministers Ms Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif, once archrivals of each other, Thursday vowed to carry on their struggle for the 'restoration of democracy' in Pakistan.

The two leaders made this pledge at their first ever face-to-face meeting, ever since Sharif's compulsory and Ms Bhutto's self exile.

'Pakistan Times' understands that the ex-Premier Ms Benazir Bhutto, who is also the Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party [PPP] met the exiled-Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif, who is the Supreme Head of the Pakistan Muslim League [Nawaz] in Jeddah Thursday. She condoled with him the death of his father Mian Muhammad Sharif.

Extensive Dialogue

The two leaders also had an extensive informal exchange of views on the country’s political situation.

Ms Benazir accompanied by her spouse Asif Ali Zardari and Farooq Naik had arrived in Jeddah for the performance of Umra.

Joint Statement

It was decided that a joint statement and an agreed charter of democracy would be jointly prepared and issued to the media.

Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was assisted by Ahsan Iqbal.

Charter of Democracy

Both the leaders agreed formally on a charter of democracy, basically a minimum democratic set of principles, which will be issued to the media later.

'The charter of democracy should become the cornerstone of an end to dictatorships for all times to come. Differences on policies and other issues should be set aside for achieving this common and universal goal. Both parties agreed to form working groups to outline specific measures and reforms for implementing the charter of democracy,' says a statement issued by PML-N from Jeddah.

Releasing details of the meeting, spokesman for Mian Nawaz Sharif, Syed Zaeem Hussain Qadri said that Ms Benazir Bhutto, Asif Zardari and Senator Farooq Naik met the PML-N Quaid in Jeddah. They expressed their condolences to Nawaz Sharif over the sad demise of Mian Muhammad Sharif and offered Dua for the departed soul.

The meeting which lasted for two and a half hours was pleasant in which both the exiled leaders had in-depth discussions on the political situation in Pakistan.

Constitutional and Political Crisis

They resolved that it is the responsibility of PML-N and PPP, the two major political parties of the country, to strive to get Pakistan out of the present constitutional and political crisis.

They agreed that Pakistan came into being as a result of a democratic struggle and democracy is an essential part to keep its Federation intact and this is the only way through which Pakistan can make progress.

So, it is imperative that the country should be back on track of democracy and 1973 Constitution should be restored. They also agreed that to achieve these objectives holding of free and fair elections under an independent election commission is necessary.

They maintained that both the parties are ready to extend every kind of cooperation to achieve these targets. Both were in agreement for launching a fresh struggle for democracy to ensure protection to human rights, self-respect, tolerance, rights of women and minorities.

The 1973 Constitution

Both the former Prime Ministers remarked non-democratic forces would not be allowed to violate the 1973 Constitution, usurp the democratic rights of the Pakistani public, end the supremacy of law and the Constitution, negate the federal parliamentary system and stifle freedom of the media.

The PML-N and PPP leaders resolved that framing ‘code of democracy’ is the need of the hour for which both the parties will constitute a working group which will not only do this job but will also try its best to get this code enforced.

Call to Politicians

They called upon all the democratic forces in Pakistan to play their part in framing the ‘code of democracy’ and its enforcement, so that dictatorship could be eliminated forever.

Mian Nawaz Sharif also briefed Ms Benazir Bhutto on his meeting with MMA President and General Secretary Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

After the meeting, Nawaz Sharif hosted a luncheon in honour of the former first couple which was also attended by members of Sharif family including Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, Capt (Retd) Muhammad Safdar, Hussain Nawaz and Ahsan Iqbal.

Sources say there is another meeting expected between the two leaders at the end of Benazir’s visit.

And as a BBC report says, Ms Benazir and Mian Nawaz Sharif signed a three-point agreement for promoting democracy in Pakistan. The pact was made in Jeddah during their first-ever meeting as opposition leaders.

It calls for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan, an independent election commission and respect for popular mandate.

A Landmark Event

Meanwhile, talking to BBC from Jeddah, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal termed the meeting between Nawaz and Benazir a landmark occasion, adding “today is a historic day in the democratic history of Pakistan as two leaders have agreed on a new charter of democracy and that both the political parties have to start a new era of political cooperation after forgetting the bitterness of the past.”

He said the two leaders have reached a written agreement for waging a joint struggle for the revival of true democracy, restoration of 1973 Constitution in letter and spirit and ensuring its as well as Parliament’s supremacy.

To a question, he replied: “Both have agreed on a charter of democracy and resolved to consult other component parties of ARD as well as share this with them. Other political parties have been invited to come and agree on this agreement/charter and struggle for the restoration of true democracy and revival of 1973 Constitution as well as ensuring its and Parliament’s supremacy,” he added.

The PML [Nawaz] and PPP leaders agreed on the need for the restoration of the 1973 Constitution for overcoming the nation’s constitutional and political problems. Both the leaders agreed to adopt a minimum programme for the restoration of democracy in the country.

For this purpose it was agreed to set up a working group comprising Senators Mian Raza Rabbani and Safdar Abbasi from the PPP and Senator Ishaq Dar and Ahsan Iqbal of PML [N] to identify minimum democratic agenda to be followed.

The two leaders also resolved to continue struggling for the restoration of democracy. They noted that some undemocratic elements within the country were seeking to create rift between them so as to weaken the struggle for the restoration of democracy. In this context they resolved not to allow these elements create rift between them.

Mian Nawaz Sharif also briefed Ms Benazir Bhutto on his meting with Qazi Hussain Ahmad, chief of the MMA and the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly of Pakistan, Maulana Fazl ur Rehman.

Ms Benazir Bhutto also met the son and the son-in-law of Mian Nawaz Sharif.

Nawaz Sharif Reax

The PML-N Quaid and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said he is firm on his stance and will never retreat. ‘People have expectations from us and we have to come up to those expectations,’ Mian Nawaz Sharif said after a meeting with PPP-P’s Chairperson Ms Benazir Bhutto.

He said, ‘I have invited Ms Benazir to launch a joint struggle which is the need of the hour. The time is very short. Our determined stand will bring a positive change in the country.’

‘Though the competition is tough but don’t care, just start. We can bring a real revolution. The government is bound to go. The 73 Constitution and true democracy will be restored in the country. Your father made the 73 Constitution and we should stick to our demand of its restoration,’ Nawaz asked Benazir.

Benazir Bhutto

Ms Benazir agreed to Nawaz’s viewpoint and pledged to continue struggle till the goals are achieved, according to sources.

BB-NS meet after 17 Years

The Thursday meeting between the two former Prime Ministers, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif at Jeddah saw them reaching an understanding on already agreed points regarding revival of democracy and 1973 Constitution, but it did not go beyond that.

The main significance of this meeting was that the two leaders, both having the distinction of being two-time Prime Ministers, met after 17 years, but this time in a very cordial atmosphere, and both leaders reiterated their resolve to make joint efforts for revival of democracy in the country.

It was more of a social meeting than a political one, sources said.
It is pertinent to mention here that before Thursday’s face-to-face encounter at Jeddah, Benazir (then PM) and Nawaz Sharif (then CM) had met in December 1988 in Lahore, when the country was in the grip of highest political tension with Centre and Punjab at daggers drawn.

That meeting had lasted about four hours and ended with a negative note, as both political rivals of that time agreed only to disagree on all issues with an implicit resolve never to meet again.

But the meeting in question was quite different from the one, held 17 years back, in the sense that both leaders this time were out of power, and, as some body remarked, had greater realisation of the mistakes both had committed in the past.

As per sources close to Ms Benazir and Mian Nawaz Sharif, the two leaders avoided to discuss any controversial issue, and preferred to deliberate on previously agreed points with regard to restoration of 1973 Constitution and revival of democracy.

Of ARD Role and Code of Conduct

Matters pertaining to the future role of ARD in country’s politics were also discussed during the meeting that lasted almost three hours.

The two leaders, sources said, did not touch the controversial issue of inclusion of MMA in the ARD movement. It may be noted that PPP-P has certain reservations with regard to MMA’s political attitude, and had been reluctant to join hands with the religious alliance for revival of democracy.

Heads of PPP-P and PML (N) also agreed to remove obstacles in the way of formulating a code of conduct to be observed by both the parties for better working relationship in future.●