Archive of South Asia Citizens Wire | feeds from sacw.net | @sacw
Home > General > Pakistan: WAF Demands That Democracy Must Prevail (May 25, 2022)

Pakistan: WAF Demands That Democracy Must Prevail (May 25, 2022)

26 May 2022

print version of this article print version

Women’s Action Forum (WAF)

Press Statement

[May 25, 2022]

Women’s Action Forum has fought for democratic freedoms against all military dictatorships, and held all civilian governments accountable when their policies breached the separation of powers; appeased the military; or became complicit in state excesses. In the current political crisis, WAF demands that all state institutions and functionaries adhere to the constitutional bounds and responsibilities set in several SC orders directing the right to assemble and its limitations; observe SOPs set for police; and categorically ensure fundamental human rights and security of citizens.

WAF maintains that matters of governance should only be resolved in Parliament. Parties must assemble immediately and debate on possible solutions for a way out of this financial and representative crisis, until an agreement is brokered by government and opposition party members. The economic crisis must be resolved in a transparent manner and decisive legal steps regarding elections must be agreed on. WAF does not support violent protest, and any other intervention, pressure tactics, or the use of state apparatus to intimidate political parties or their supporters, is unacceptable as is the chaotic and selfserving irresponsible call to topple the government and risk people’s lives and livelihoods. WAF demands that a parliamentary democratic resolution be immediately invoked.