PML-Q unveils 5 Ds’ manifesto
By Saad Saud

ISLAMABAD—PML on Monday announced its election manifesto for the election 2008 with the motto Live and Let Live and Giving Hope to the Hopeless and basing the PML vision on the Five D’s. PML president Ch Shujaat Hussain announcing the manifesto on Monday in a crowded press conference along with secretary general Mushahid Hussain said that the PML vision for the election 2008 is based on five D’s which stand for democracy, development, devolution, diversity and defence and these are the five pillars on which the future of Pakistan rests.
The two PML leaders underlined that the Party deliberately choose December 10 to launch the PML Manifesto since it coincided with the International Human Rights Day and the Party wanted to reaffirm its commitment to Human Rights as a major policy priority. The PML President underlined that a lot of work had gone into preparations of the Party manifesto and he had entrusted the initial task of giving input to a Committee headed by Senator S.M. Zafar. Then there had been consultations within the Party and outside as well, and the final product was a result of brain storming during the last one week.
He said have begum our manifesto with quotations from the Holy Quran, which focus on humanity harmony and tolerance. Than we also have quotations of the Quaid-e-Azam regarding equal rights for all Pakistan citizens, freedom of media, role of business and foreign policy. Ch Shujaat said difference between PML and other parties is that we lay a great emphasis on moral values, since we do not believe that politics is only a quest for Kursi. For other parties Kursi may come first but for us it is Pakistan first.
He said that the other difference is that our party has democracy within its ranks and is not based on personality. “We are not a dynastic party and both myself and the secretary general are elected office bearers for two terms only and we would pave way for others. Our sources of inspirations are the founding father, Quaid-Azam and Allama Iqbal”, he said. He said that our manifesto is viable and practical and would help in elimination of poverty. He said it has been prepared keeping in view the needs of the handicapped, widows, orphans, women, journalists, students, artists, teachers, poets and overseas Pakistanis.
For instance, the PML is proposing a “National Teachers Day” to honour the profession of teaching, and it proposes to raise the retirement age of teachers to 65. Chaudhry Shujat Hussain also underlined that PML was committed to a “democratic political culture based on culture of conciliation rejecting the culture of revenge”. He also emphasized the need for “democracy within political parties including the right of dissent and difference of opinion”. In a new initiative, the PML manifesto calls for a constitutional amendment to allow representation of overseas Pakistanis in the parliament.
Speaking on defence and foreign policy, Senator Mushahid Hussain said the PML wishes to “redefine the concept of national security so that, apart from military might civilian components are also highlighted”. These include “respect for the Rule of Law and Human Rights, political parties and provincial autonomy, economy and education, civil society, independent media and judiciary and a sovereign parliament”. The PML manifesto rules out “allowing any intrusion into its Nuclear Program or provide access to any of its nuclear installations and scientists to outsiders”.
He said that we are against the role of army in politics but we have double standards we want army to play its role in accordance to the constitution. He said on one hand politicians made secret deals with the army but when they are in public they criticise the army He said Life insurance for journalist, poets and artists would be made and in this regard National Foundation would be set up. Cycle culture would be promoted, clean drinking water schemes to be initiated, food safety commissions would be set up, he said.