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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (44070)	4/21/2003 3:59:56 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Respond to of 50167

US ambassador to give lecture to parliamentarians By our correspondent ISLAMBABAD: US ambassador to Pakistan Nancy Powell for the first time in country's parliamentary history would give a long lesson to 342 members of parliament including those of MMA on Tuesday on the value of democracy and how to hold government accountable in a democratic society. The orientation programme for Pakistani legislatures has been fully funded by USAID and would be presided over by Speaker National Assembly Ch. Amir Hussain. Even IMF had put a condition in its three years programme for Pakistan that such orientation programme would be arranged for the parliamentarians and legislatures. The purpose of such programs is to develop intra-parliamentary relationship systematically and in the second phase of the programme, Pakistani parliamentarians would be offered courses and orientations at the US senators and congressmen's offices. USAID had earlier suspended its operation in Pakistan in 1995-96 but former Ambassador Chamberlain had announced restarting of its operation in early 2002 after both the political parties of US-Republican and Democrats decided to set up their offices in Pakistan to locate new political allies from Pakistan on long term basis and propagate their own political philosophies here. Both the US parties have already established their offices in Pakistan. Consequently, Bush administration approved massive funding last year by the new administration to cultivate relationship with the new parliamentarians and many courses are already being prepared for the legislatures who would be taken to US on these courses on democracy. An official said that the purpose of US agency and Asia Foundation is to propagate the American mode of democracy in the third world countries and produce leaders and followers of their own thinking to whom with the USA governments could easily work on the long term basis. That was why, they said massive funding has been put on the disposal of the people both official and non officials who are staging such big shows in the capital in the name of telling the parliamentarians about the real democratic norms. The official said the program was actually being arranged by the policy implementation wing of the agency that acts very closely with the USAID with the civil society of any given country in Asia generally. The US agency strongly believes in the American democratic values. The agency has already started to dole out funds to known and unknown NGOs in Pakistan without involving the official agencies in the process. Meanwhile, official said Speaker National Assembly Amir Husasin will preside over the unique programme in which the US ambassador would deliver her address to enable the Pakistani legislatures to perform their legislative duties effectively. All the member of the parliament have been formally invited by the Secretary National Assembly Mehmood Saleem Mehmood through a letter dated April 17 to attend an orientation programme for the members that has been funded by USAID and Asia Foundation. According to available invitation letter sent to all the members of parliament, Nancy Powell will introduce the orientation programme that aim at three basic things - Role of legislative assemblies in a democratic society - Legislative procedures and accountability. In addition to it, the parliamentarians have been told by the Secretary National Assembly Mehmood Saleem Mehmood that aim of this orientation programme is to enable them to perform their legislative duties effectively and they should come to listen to the Lady ambassador in a local hotel. The orientation programme has been scheduled during the session of the National Assembly and will take place from April 22-23 in the Marriot hotel Islamabad. According to available copy of the programme on Tuesday, Ch. Amir Hussain will be the chief guest while secretary National Assembly and Julio A. Andrews representative of the Asia Foundation would inform the parliamentarians about the background of the programme. While, around 5.20pm, the US ambassador will deliver the key address and introduce the Pakistani legislature about the three basic areas of the democracy in which they need to improve their understanding and learning. While, on the role of Legislatures in a democratic society, the former speaker National Assembly Syed Fakhar Imam and former member National Assembly Haji Saifullah. While, the names of the panelists include MNA Aitzaz Ahsan, Dr Abdul Ghafoor Khan Jato, Liaquat Baloch. While, on day second of the orientation programme, on the issue of Legistation and accountability, the role of committee system, former chairman Wasim Sajjad ( to be confirmed) and Wazeer Ahmad Jogezai, former deputy speaker national assembly would deliver their lectures. While, the names of the panellists include Makhdoom Javed Hahshmi, Noorhehan Panezai, and Kunwar Khlaid Younis.