Faisalabad: October 19, 2010. (PCP) On 16th October 2010, Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) organized a seminar on the theme “Priorities for the National Interest and Democratic System in Pakistan” in collaboration with Liaison for Enforcement of Human Rights (LEHR) and Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD). This seminar was held at John Joseph Hall in Faisalabad and was joined by 95 Muslim and Christian participants. The speakers included; Naseem Anthony (Executive Secretary-AWAM), Najma Afzal, Mujahid Gillani Advocate, Nazia Sardar, Shazia George (Coordinator-AWAM) and Aasia Sohail. Naseem Anthony said, “The current crises in Pakistan cannot be resolved by unconstitutional and undemocratic step, the solution to the existing crises is only possible in the continuation of a democratic system, because democracy is essential for the stability and prosperity of Pakistan.” Najma Afzal said, “It is pertinent for political stability that implementation on the charter of democracy (CoD) should be ensured, and involvement of women must be made certain in the process of policy making and law making for their better role in politics.” Mujahid Gillani said, “Steps like restoring local bodies system and holding elections on proper time are important for prolongation of democracy in Pakistan, whereas increase in budget for education and reduction in budget for defense, is necessary for greatest national interest.” Nazia Sardar said, “Democracy is a political system of governance for providing relief to the people keeping in view their needs and problems, therefore government must take positive steps in order to control inflation and poverty, and must guarantee equality of all citizens and social justice by elimination of class division and feudal system.” Shazia George said, “All democratic forces must join hands despite their differences and concerns, for the defense of democratic framework in Pakistan and for the progressive future of the country.” Aasia Sohail said, “Accountability, transparency and fair elections are important factors for Democracy, therefore civil society must highlight evil practices in the cover of democratic set up so that the benefits of democracy reach to the citizens of Pakistan without any discrimination.” The speakers for supreme national interest demanded that: all state institutions should function in accordance with the constitution, should avoid confrontation and respect jurisdiction of each institution; government should ensure good governance by improving its performance and credibility by implementation on the orders of the judiciary, and must withdraw its support for corrupt people by taking strict action against elements involved in the corruption in order to recover the economic loss of the country from their possession; government must follow the lawful means for the appointment in the state institutions in order to promote the culture of merit system, and must take legal action against the parliamentarians resorting fake graduation degree for their access to the legislative assembly; government must ensure the culture of transparency and accountability by making flood relief operation free of corruption in order to restore the confidence of Pakistanis and international community for the aid in favour of flood affected people; government must impose tax on landlords and industrialists, and must utilize that money in order to control poverty and inflation; all political parties should avoid criticism on each other, and should adopt the policy of dialogue for the stability of democratic system and for dealing with the current crises in Pakistan; government must take practical steps for the removal of social, cultural, religious, legal and political barriers in the way of women’s empowerment.