Grand dialogue inevitable for country's political, economic stability.

PESHAWAR -- The democratic system cannot strengthen its roots in the country unless all the stakeholders including religious and political parties sit together for a grand political dialogue to seek solutions to the prevailing socio-economic challenges.

The political dialogue was considered an effective tool in a democratic setup, which resolved political issues and removed misunderstanding among political players amicably and also strengthened democracy besides ensuring the smooth transition of power through mutual consensus among political stakeholders.

'In a democratic system, the doors to political dialogue among religious and political entities are always open to take decisions in the national interest,' said Professor Dr A.H.Hilali, former Chairman, Political Science Department, University of Peshawar while talking to reporter on Friday.

He said democracy was derailed four times in Pakistan due to the absence of political dialogue among political parties, which resulted in socioeconomic imbalances, poverty and weakened democratic institutions in the past.

Dr Hilali said the government of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was dismissed after the 9 religious and political parties under the platform of Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) launched an agitation movement, claiming rigging in the 1977 elections. In spite of strong denial of the rigging allegations by PPP, he said PNA's agitation movement has sparked riots and unrest and incurred colossal economic losses to the country and subsequently democracy was packed up for the third time on July 5, 1977.

'The absence of political dialogue during 90s had also led to the dissolution of the elected assemblies and the governments of former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and PMLN Quaid Nawaz Sharif after being accused of rigging in elections and its negative outcome came before us in the shape of martial law on October 12, 1999.'

Professor Hilali said unfortunately our politicians did not learn lessons from history and again started wrangling by closing the doors of political dialogue despite the country's difficult economic situation.

'In a democratic setup, the doors of negotiations between political parties were never kept closed and there was always flexibility and logic to move forward,' he said, adding the political mercury that touched a new height of confrontation after the dissolution of Imran Khan Government through a successful no-confidence motion needed to be brought down through...

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