(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-10 21:01

Islamabad -- The PML-Q party launched its manifesto for the 2008 elections here Monday, elaborating the party' s vision of democracy, development, devolution, diversity and defense.

At a press conference at the PML-Q House in Islamabad, PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed underlined that the Party deliberately choose Dec. 10 to launch the party's manifesto since it coincided with the International Human Rights Day and the party wanted to reaffirm its commitment to human rights as a major policy priority.

PML-Q was the ruling party under President Pervez Mushaaraf before the caretaker government was sworn in on Nov. 16.

Shujaat said that the PML-Q was committed to a "democratic political culture based on culture of conciliation rejecting the culture of revenge". He also emphasized the need for "democracy within political parties including the right of dissent and difference of opinion".

Senator Mushahid said that the new initiatives proposed in the PML-Q charter were "doable and poor-friendly". He also said that great care had been taken to ensure that the manifesto reached out to all sections of Pakistan's population and society, particularly the poor and voiceless.

Speaking on the defense and foreign policy, Mushahid said that the PML-Q wished to "redefine the concept of national security so that apart from military might, civilian components are also highlighted".

The PML-Q manifesto rules out "allowing any intrusion into its Nuclear Program or provide access to any of its nuclear installations and scientists to outsiders".

The PML-Q has also proposed a Task Force for examining the causes of extremism and it has stated its position on such issues as Kashmir, Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and the Iranian nuclear program.

It defines extremism, terrorism and sectarianism as "the biggest security threats to Pakistan".