Islamabad, April 25; In view of the worsening law and order situation in Karachi, the Democracy Assessment Group convened by PILDAT conducted a fact-finding mission to Karachi on April 15, 2012. Based on the important points raised by various stakeholders during extensive discussions, the Group has recommended 5 key measures to resolve unrest in Karachi:

1. Only a few elements attempt to create ethnic and sectarian conflict in Karachi. The overwhelming majority of the city�s residents are devoted to peace and harmony between all communities. The Provincial Government should take strong action to deter all divisive elements.

2. As 3 major political parties are members of the Provincial coalition Government, they bear special responsibility to end the criminalization of politics in the city.

3. Recruitment, postings and promotions in regard to public services should be made free of all political interference.

4. The absence of an elected local government in Karachi is a reflection of the nation-wide vacuum of the essential third-tier of democracy. In fulfillment of the Constitutional requirement, the Sindh Assembly, along with other Provincial Assemblies, must coordinate to prepare comprehensive Local Government legislation to establish effective elected Local Governments.

5. In view of Karachi�s unique demographic identity, the Election Commission of Pakistan should take special measures to ensure free, fair and transparent Elections at all three tiers in Karachi.

Members of the Democracy Assessment Group who visited Karachi under the chairmanship of Mr. Illahi Bukhsh Soomro, former Speaker, National Assembly, included Mr. Omar Khan Afridi, former Caretaker Minister, Mr. Iftikhar Ahmed, Senior Journalist, Mr. Cyril Almeida, Analyst, Senator Mir Hasil Bizenjo, Vice President of the National Party, Dr. Ijaz Shafi Gilani, Chairman Gallup, Pakistan, Mr. Javed Hafeez, former Ambassador, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Moinuddin Haider, former Governor Sindh; former Federal Minister for Interior, Mr. Shahid Hamid, senior Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan, former Governor Punjab, Sardar Khalid Ibrahim, politician, Mr. Javed Jabbar, former Senator; Federal Minister for Media Development, Mr. Wazir Ahmed Jogezai, former Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Talat Masood, defence Analyst, Mr. Ghazi Salahuddin, Analyst, Dr. Mohammad Waseem, Academician, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Executive Director, PILDAT, Ms. Aasiya Riaz, Joint Director, PILDAT. Members of the Group who also endorsed the recommendations included Justice (Retd.) Manzoor Gilani, former Chief Justice of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Mr. Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Secretary General PML-N.

The Democracy Assessment Group is convened by PILDAT to periodically monitor the quality of democracy in Pakistan. Under the guidance and support from the Group, PILDAT has compiled, published and disseminated 2 reports namely: Mid-term Assessment of the Quality of Democracy in Pakistan: September 2010 as well as Assessment of the Quality of Democracy in Pakistan: Year 2011.

This meeting has been facilitated by PILDAT under the project Supporting Monitoring of Democracy, Electoral Reforms and Development of Youth in Pakistan which is supported by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), Government of Denmark. The views expressed by DAG, however, do not represent the views of DANIDA, the Government of Denmark and the Royal Danish Embassy Islamabad.