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Asghar backs

CE's power

devolution plan

ISLAMABAD: Tehreek-e-Istaqlal Chief Air Marshal Asghar Khan (Retd) Sunday termed the devolution of power programme by the present set up as a "breath of fresh air."

"It will prove to be a right step in right direction," he said addressing a press conference.

Supporting the programme, Asghar Khan said it is for the first time that somebody has tried to create a society, the Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam had envisaged.

However, he feared that influential feudal lords will once against penetrate in the system to rule the masses.

"Feudalism must be ended to let the common man enjoy power in letter and spirit," Asghar added.

The Tehreek chief said the poor people have been exploited in the name of democracy. But, he said, "the time has come to give them opportunity to be the masters of their own destiny."

Seeing the previous rules as fascist dictatorships under the guise of democracy, Asghar said, "in past the common man had no say in running the state affairs."

General Musharraf's programme, he maintained, "will hopefully end the stale colonial system that had been dominating our institutions since the emergence of Pakistan."

For the purpose of devolution of power in real sense, he proposed to ending the bureaucratic influence in politics at lower level.ÑAPP