Democracy in Pak more important than polls: British envoy

The British High Commissioner to akistan, Robert Brinkley, has stressed the need for a level-laying field for all the political parties to contest the orthcoming elections in order to ensure fairness of the poll rocess.

Islamabad, Dec 7 : The British High Commissioner to akistan, Robert Brinkley, has stressed the need for a level-laying field for all the political parties to contest the orthcoming elections in order to ensure fairness of the poll rocess.

He further said democracy was about so much more than just lections.

Brinkley said it was about strong institutions: A judiciary free rom influence or manipulation, and a free media, both crutinising the actions of the politicians and it was about uaranteeing the rights of citizens, including women and minority roups.

"I make no apology for speaking out in favour of democracy in akistan. Each country must make its own internal politics rrangements, according to the traditions and norms of its ociety," he said while addressing the sixth session of the Youth arliament Pakistan, launched by PILDAT, here.

Brinkley added that the usual way of doing this was free and fair lections and such elections was the mechanism by which people xercised control over their elected representatives and also eld them to account for their actions.

Talking about prospects of democracy in Pakistan, he said the uture of democracy was bright, as Musharraf has announced lection date and had also promise to lift emergency on December 6.

Commenting on the war on terrorism, Brinkley said the UK had ever used the term ' War on Terrorism' and neither a specific efinition of the terrorism was presented yet by anyone in the orld.

"UK believes that army is not the only option to encounter errorism in any part of the world, as UK believed in dialogues," e said.

However, suicide attacks are increasing in numbers. So, UK and akistan should work together to stop suicide attacks in both ountries," The Nation quoted him, as saying.

ANI