Whereas, Pakistan as a multi national entity, promoted by Quaid-e-Azam and achieved through the efforts of the Muslims of the Sub-continent was torn apart in 1971. The majority of the Muslim population of Pakistan divorced itself from the Jinnah’s Pakistan, created by the Muslims of Indian Sub- Continent; thereby the very premise of the existence of the remaining Pakistan lost its justification in 1971. Although the justification for the existence of Pakistan ceased in 1971 but the people of Pakistan, however, tried hard to maintain its existence. Consequently, the Army, civil bureaucracy and intelligence agencies, all hailing from Punjab, who were responsible for the dismemberment of the country colonised the smaller provinces. The army, civil bureaucracy and intelligence agencies of Punjab invaded the Baloch, the Pashtoons, the Sindhis and finally they assaulted the descendents of the creators of Pakistan, i.e. the Mohajirs. The military operation against Mohajirs is still continuing since 19 June 1992. The oppressed nations of Pakistan tolerated the excesses of the Punjabi Army, civil bureaucracy and intelligence agencies for the past 29 years in the hope that they would take a lesson from their past bitter experiences and accept their blunders. Furthermore, it was expected that they would apologise for their crimes against humanity and genocide carried out against the smaller nations and would compensate them. But all the smaller nations today have reached to the conclusion that in the existing set-up they cannot attain their fundamental rights, and if the army, civil bureaucracy and the intelligence agencies of Punjab have any desire to maintain the existence of Pakistan, they have to eliminate the concept of Master and Slave, which they have practised over the years. Furthermore, provide total provincial autonomy to all the smaller nations in accordance with the 1940 Lahore Resolution.
The Assembly elected as a result of the 1970 General Elections of united Pakistan, formulated a Constitution in 1973 for the remainder of Pakistan, with the “consensus”. However, the smaller nations and representatives of the people had several apprehensions. Due to the tragedy of the break-up of Pakistan, the smaller nations demonstrated tolerance by keeping quiet because of the inclusion of a clause that after the elapse of ten years, the smaller provinces would have more autonomous powers. Unfortunately, because of the autocratic approach of the Army, civil bureaucracy and the intelligence agencies of Punjab, headstrong amendments, successive martial-laws, inept judiciary and its incomprehensible, expedient, unconstitutional decisions, self-seeking so-called “federal” political parties with their hypocritical, anti-people and undemocratic approach has not only destroyed the spirit of the 1973 Constitution but have also demeaned it – not only in the eyes of the people of Pakistan but also before the democratic and civilised world.
The 1973 Constitution of Pakistan could not provide the fundamental rights and security to the people of Pakistan, particularly of the smaller nations and even could not protect itself. So much so, that the Leader of the House responsible for formulating this Constitution could not protect himself under this Constitution and was unconstitutionally sacked from the Premiership. The civil and military autocrats have made so many alterations in this Constitution, without the consent of the people that it has lost its original form, spirit and utility. Its role in the hands of undemocratic and unconstitutional forces has been rendered superfluous and has become an obstacle in the path of progress. Unanimously, everyone agrees that human rights and needs of the people are sacrosanct and it is, therefore, the Constitution should be subservient to the needs of people and has to be amended accordingly. The Twenty-First Century is the Century of equality, freedom, knowledge and transparent democracy. Therefore, according to the dictates of the Twenty-First Century the fresh distribution of powers between the people and State, relationship between nations and Federation, distribution of rights and powers be determined and a new Constitution be formulated to safeguard and strengthen the country.
Today’s Assembly, therefore, demands that according to the spirit of 1940 Lahore Resolution, a new liberal and democratic Constitution based on equality of nations be formulated for the people of Pakistan. This Constitution shall provide equal and democratic rights to all the citizens, and shall honour democracy and fundamental rights. This Constitution shall not only provide equal rights to all the religious minorities but also provide them the right to vote in a joint-electorate system instead of the separate-electorate system. Women shall be provided with equal rights and representation in all walks of life and the discriminatory treatment, which they are subjected to, should come to an end. All the provinces shall have total autonomy and all the present functions of the Federation with the exception of Defence, Foreign Affairs and Currency shall be transferred to the provinces. The federal interference in the matters of provincial rights and authorities shall end. This Constitution shall also provide a foolproof guarantee to safeguard the rights and authorities of the provinces. The composition of the Pakistan Army shall be recomposed, having equal representation of nations from all the provinces that it can effectively and practically be presented as the National Army of Pakistan instead of being the Punjabi Army.
So that Pakistan can actually become a democratic State where; There shall be no oppression by one individual upon another and one nation upon another, where there shall be no master and no slave, The nations of all the provinces in the spirit of live and let live, shall have the right to make their mother tongue as their official language and the mode of education, The right to govern shall be through such a parliament, which is composed of equality of nations, and shall be directly elected by the people and accountable to them, The Army and Intelligence Agencies shall have no political role to play, All the institutions shall be free to act within their own sphere of influence, however, the military including all the institutions shall be subservient to the elected parliament, The internal and foreign policies shall be formulated with equal participation of all the nations to ensure that they are for the welfare of the people.
This Assembly also wants to make it clear today that the smaller nations do not want to fight nor do they want further dismemberment of Pakistan. The smaller provinces were not responsible for the dismemberment of the country in 1971 but the Punjabi Army, the civil bureaucracy and the intelligence agencies were responsible for this debacle. If the existing Pakistan breaks-up, it will not be the doing of the smaller provinces but of the Punjabi Army, the civil bureaucracy and the intelligence agencies. The ball is now firmly in the court of Punjabi Army, the civil bureaucracy and the intelligence agencies. They have to decide whether they want to keep Pakistan intact or to dismember it further. If the Punjabi Army, the civil bureaucracy and the intelligence agencies do not change their attitude and as a consequence if the smaller provinces approach the United Nations and demand for the right of self-determination, then any just and fair person can decide whether this act would be correct and whether they have the right to approach the United Nations.
Whereas, to conduct the matters and affairs of the State is the right of the people and not the Military and its agencies. In the past 53 years, the verdict of history is that the military Generals and intelligence agencies with their repeated unconstitutional and illegal interferences in the affairs of the running of the State and politics have harmed the country immensely. The military take-over on 12 October 1999, is autocratic, illegal and unconstitutional, similar to the army take-overs in 1958, 1969 and 1977. As a result of these martial-laws, Pakistan was not only dismembered in 1971 but the remaining Pakistan is going through most traumatic experiences and uncertainties. This military take-over is a disgraceful joke and crime against the right to franchise and governance of the people of Pakistan. This military take-over and the court’s decision in favour of an unconstitutional military government are mockery of the judiciary and a slap on the face of democratic rights of the people.
Today’s Assembly, therefore, pays tribute to those judges who acted according to the Constitution and the norms of democracy and refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO), and demands that the Army goes back to the barracks immediately while handing over the powers to those Supreme Court Judges who refused to take oath under the PCO. They should also be able to take practical steps to formulate a new Constitution in accordance with the resolutions unanimously passed today. If that does not happen then the people and nations of Pakistan will be compelled to act affectively in order to protect their constitutional, democratic and legal rights. It is not the task of the army to run the affairs of the country. They are responsible only to defend the geographical boundaries of the State.
Whereas, in Pakistan not only the smaller provinces have no representation in the current set-up of the Establishment but also the provinces have been turned into colonies of the Army, the civil bureaucracy and the intelligence agencies of Punjab. Their resources have been plundered and looted. Moreover, without the consent and participation of the people of smaller provinces, plans for national and international commercial agreements and deals pertaining to the utilisation of their land and resources are being designed. Similarly, foreign aid and loans in the name of Pakistan are being obtained without the consent of the people of the smaller provinces. Instead of spending, the foreign aid and loans so obtained, on the welfare of the people of the smaller provinces they are being used against them. Ironically, the resources of the smaller provinces are used for the repayment of these loans. In other words, there is no consent or participation of the people of the smaller provinces in the decisions relating to these agreements, deals, plans, aid and loans. However, the entire responsibility for the repayment is imposed upon the smaller provinces.
Today’s Assembly, therefore, demands of the international community, all the donor countries of the world, international monetary institutions (including the IMF and the World Bank) not to sign any agreement or provide loans and aid to Pakistan until such time that the people of the smaller nations are provided equal representation in the administration and governance of Pakistan. In the present conditions, the smaller provinces of Pakistan will not be responsible for the repayment of these loans or honour any such agreement that are being made without the consent of these provinces.
We would like to clarify that we are not against any such agreements being made by those countries, international companies and international monetary organisations with regards to Central Asian States. However, the people of the smaller nations of Pakistan will not stand liable for any such agreements, which are being made without their consent and effective participation. The act of utilising the land and resources of the smaller provinces without the consent of their people can result in the instability of the region.
Moreover, the people of the smaller provinces do not consider themselves responsible for the agreements being made without their consent and knowledge, between the international companies, organisations and countries with the current Establishment, with regard to exploitation, the use of the resources, means of production and distribution in the smaller provinces -- either in the form of oil and gas, minerals or ports. The people of the smaller provinces believe that by committing such act, the international companies, organisations and the countries are intentionally or unintentionally becoming a party to the exploitation of the resources of the smaller provinces by the Punjabi Establishment. The international companies, organisations and countries should refrain from such acts because the poor, enslaved and unarmed people of these provinces have the right according to the International Norms and United Nations Charter to protect and defend their resources, their land and their means of production and distribution.
Whereas, the Hamoodur Rehman Commission Report is now before the public, disclosing the national calamity about the dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971 and the surrender by Ninety-three thousands (93000) army personnel.
Today’s Assembly, therefore, in the interest of justice, national pride and prosperity demands that Hamoodur Rehman Commission Report be made public and those held responsible for the break-up of Pakistan in this Report, be severely punished. At the same time the reports on the tragedies of the murder of the first Prime Minister Shaheed-e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan, the Ojheri Camp disaster, the C130 Plane Crash and the Kargil fiasco should also be made public and those responsible for these disasters be punished accordingly.
Whereas the people of the smaller provinces have repeatedly rejected the plan to construct the Kalabagh Dam.
Today’s Assembly, therefore, demands that the Kalabagh Dam Project should be scrapped.
Whereas, in the formation of the National Finance Commission Award (NFC), the people of smaller provinces have always been discriminated. The revenue and resources of the smaller provinces have always been looted and plundered.
Today’s Assembly, therefore, demands to adopt a formula to allocate funds equitably to the provinces through the NFC Award in proportion to their contribution to the federal exchequer.
Whereas, the act of suppression of the Bengalis in the former East Pakistan through armed forces was commissioned before the dismemberment of Pakistan. After the dismemberment of Pakistan, the Baloch were attacked by the armed forces, the Pashtoons were attacked, the Sindhis were invaded and the aggression against the Mohajirs by the armed forces in urban Sindh is continuing unabated for the past eight years. Now, the preparations are being made to unleash State terrorism against the Baloch and Pashtoons in Balochistan through an Army Operation. Similarly, the Seraikis are also being targeted, discriminated and facing injustices.
Today’s Assembly, therefore, demands the cessation of the State operation in the urban and rural Sindh and in Balochistan, particularly the State Operation against the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), which is continuing for the past eight (8) years, must be stopped forthwith. Today’s Assembly further demands the immediate release of all the innocent people unlawfully arrested in Sindh and Balochistan. The murderers of Sindhis, Mohajirs, Balochs and Pakhtuns be exemplary punished and the operation launched against the Pushtoon Khwa Milli Awami Party on 27 April 2000 should be investigated and the culprits responsible for the murders of their workers and leaders be severely punished.
Whereas, the Punjabi Army, the civil bureaucracy and the intelligence agencies are fanning the religious extremism and is not only providing the religious extremists the weapons, funds, transportation and protection but also authorising them to commit murder and mayhem to create disorder through the naked use of their weaponry to suppress the rights and Movement of the oppressed nations. Their objective by employing this method is to impose their created religious extremists over the country and to suppress the peaceful struggle of the smaller nations to achieve their rights.
Today’s assembly therefore, demands that the Punjabi establishment stops fanning the religious extremism and sectarianism. This assembly would also like to clarify that the people of Pakistan generally and the people belonging to the smaller nations particularly will not tolerate any such Sharia and religious extremism that is conceived by the Punjabi Army, civil bureaucracy and the intelligence agencies, particularly the ISI. This Assembly solemnly declares that by the grace of God, we are Muslims; we believe in the oneness of Allah Almighty, the seal of the Prophethood of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the Holy Quran.
Whereas the process of accountability is an essential component for any healthy society and sovereign State, we do not oppose the process of accountability. Besides other ills, bribery and corruption are also major factors in harming Pakistan. In Pakistan, along with governments, judiciary, media and armed forces everyone is afflicted with this insidious disease, regardless of their civilian or military origin. This state of affairs calls for an impartial accountability process.
We, however, believe that whosoever has plundered the wealth of the country or misused their powers they should all be held accountable whether they belong to the armed forces, the Inter Services Intelligence Agency (ISI) including all the intelligence agencies, or civil administration. We also believe that the right to carry out accountability should only be vested to those who have the mandate of the people. The process of accountability should be carried out without discrimination. Just to hold, a few politicians, industrialists and businessmen accountable while exonerating other corrupt politicians, army Generals and high ranking officers of armed forces who plundered the wealth of the country by pocketing millions and billions of rupees in kick backs and commissions is not fair accountability. Moreover, exonerating even those army generals who were responsible for the dismemberment of the country is not accountability but a mockery of the process of accountability.
Today’s assembly therefore, declares that since the present Government is itself illegal and unconstitutional and has no public mandate hence a Government which itself is illegal, unconstitutional and has no public mandate does not have the right to hold any one accountable.
Whereas, the people of the country are suffering under the weight of unemployment, impoverishment, illiteracy and economic decay. Accelerating cost of living and the prices of essential items are rocketing sky-high. The unemployment in the country is already widespread while under the policy of the establishment and present military Government under the rubric of downsizing is forcibly retrenching people from the Government and Semi-Government institutions, particularly the people of the smaller provinces. Because of this downsizing, people are forced to commit suicide due to starvation and economic deprivation while Army Officials are being deployed in large numbers in the Government and Semi-Government institutions to the detriment of the civilian employees.
Today’s assembly therefore, demands that the present Military Government should cease the act of retrenching the employees from the Government and Semi-Government institutions particularly the employees hailing from the smaller provinces and also the deployment of the Army personnel and officers in the Government and Semi-Government institutions. Those military officials so appointed should be sent back to the barracks.
Whereas, an independent press is vital for the well being of democratic and progressive societies. We are all for the freedom of press and stand by the rightful struggle of the journalists but the yellow journalism must not be confused with the independence of media. The intellectuals and journalists must not serve as a tool of the Punjabi Army, civil bureaucracy and its intelligence agencies particularly the ISI. They must not character assassinate the leaders of smaller nations on concocted table stories. By such acts, they are becoming a party to the act of crushing the smaller nations.
Today’s Assembly, therefore, declares the so-called intellectuals and journalists equally responsible and guilty, of oppression against the smaller nations, along with the Punjabi Army, civil bureaucracy and intelligence agencies, particularly the ISI. In the past, similar so-called intellectuals and journalists played their role in the dismemberment of Pakistan by branding Bengalis as traitors. Today, such journalists and intellectuals are once again committing the act of breaking-up the remainder of the country by targeting the smaller nations.
Whereas, the present military government is persistently harassing the business community. In this regard, an incident the other day in Hyderabad is deplorable where the army opened fire upon peaceful business community and the people of Hyderabad. As a result of this action, ten businessmen were injured.
Today’s Assembly, therefore, demands that the harassment against the business community should be stopped forthwith and those military personnel and CBR officers authorised and committed the act of firing upon the businessmen in Hyderabad should be severely punished. The present unconstitutional and undemocratic government has no right to collect revenue from the people. The Army instead of coercing the people to provide documents of tax payments should concentrate on getting their own accounts audited and present it before the people of Pakistan.