Bilawal Bhutto : Real goal of democracy to be democratization of resources

RADIO PAKISTAN

Speaking at World Forum for Democracy‚ Chairman PPP has said Pakistan had long history of struggle for universal values of democracy

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari‚ Chairman Pakistan Peoples' Party has said that real goal of democracy has to be democratization of wealth‚ resources and markets in order to bring peace and stability in Islamic World and elsewhere. He was speaking at a lunch debate at World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg‚ France on Tuesday morning. The forum brings together reformers and global leaders to identify democratic responses to the economic‚ social and political challenges affecting the societies of the day. Speaking at the lunch debate he further said that Pakistan had long history of struggle for universal values of democracy. While paying glowing tributes to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto‚ he said that she left everlasting impressions by laying down her life at long and hard struggle for democracy in Pakistan. While admitting that democracy is nascent in Pakistan‚ he assured the world that Pakistan shares democratic values with it. He impressed upon the participants that Universal values of democracy should be respected at all costs irrespective of national and transient interests. He unequivocally declared that only democracy could provide full public consensus for counter-terrorism efforts. He also highlighted the need of a thriving civil society and free media for free growth of democracy. He also said that regional peace is vital for trade and prosperity. The others who participated in the debate‚ included; Ms. Asma Mehfouz an activist and blogger from Egypt‚ Mr. Ahmad Al-Senussi member of National Transition Council of Libya and Mr. Ali Ferzat a poltical cartoonist. Those who attended‚ included high profile personalities like Secretary General UN Ban Ki Moon‚ Head of Government of Morocco and former Prime Minister of Canada. Earlier‚ he met Mr. Frederico Mayor former Director General UNESCO and President of Foundation for Culture of Peace‚ on the side-lines of the Forum. He also met Mr. Masahiro Kawai Dean and CEO Asian Development Bank. He lauded the role of the Bank in various development projects in Pakistan. He hoped that the ADB would consider providing more assistance to Pakistan‚ especially in Energy Sector. Later‚ in the afternoon‚ he met Head of the Government of Morocco Mr. Abdelilah Benkirne‚ Mr. Keith Whitmore President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and Mr. Thorbjorn Jagland‚ Secretary General of the Council of Europe and former Prime Minister and foreign minister of Norway . While talking to the Head of Government of Morocco‚ he remarked that the fruits of Arab Spring could best be enjoyed by avoiding outside interference. He said that outside interference brings ethnic and sectarian division‚ which does not allow democracies to be stable and useful for the people.