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KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) issued on Sunday its 38-point charter of demands, before kicking off the long march to Islamabad from Karachi, urging institutions to work within their constitutional mandate.
Holding of fair elections at each tier of the governance, establishing an independent election commission and implementation of the National Action Plan, ensuring the rule of law and an independent judiciary are also part of the charter.
“The government should be run in accordance with the constitution, the students should be given the right to form unions with a decisive role in the student’s welfare affairs,” the opposition party demands.
The PPP also demanded re-setting the role of the parliamentary committee in the appointment of the judges of higher judiciary and an end to the practice of formal as well as unannounced censorship in print and the electronic media.
It demands new legislation for the independence of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) as per the recommendations of the Media Commission Report. Constitution of an ‘equality commission’ for a just wages policy for women and minorities. Compulsory enforcement of the relevant laws in crimes against women, acid attacks, and gender harassment incidents, are also part of the charter.
It also demanded legislation for the prevention of forced conversions of the members of religious minorities and an effective mechanism for preferential rights to the oil and gas producing provinces under the constitution
The Party urged for the formation of the South Punjab province and taking steps to address backwardness in the neglected areas of the country. It also demanded a guarantee for the protection of provincial rights under the 18th Amendment and other relevant clauses of the constitution.
Surety for the rights of the Baloch people and creating national consensus for decision making in this respect and bringing Baloch leaders back to the political mainstream are also included in the 38-points charter.