ISLAMABAD - Unanimously condemning the other day killings of polio workers, the representatives of almost all the major political parties Wednesday pledged to make 'Polio Eradication Plan' a part of their respective party's manifestos for general election 2013.
Leaders of 13 political parties of Pakistan, during All Parties Conference on Polio held under the aegis of Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), assured their undetected political support for polio eradication from the country. Participants of the APC termed the killings of polio workers as an attack on the future of Pakistani children and youth, saying such crimes against humanity are unacceptable.
They resolved that the Pakistani nation was united in the vision for a polio-free Pakistan. Addressing the APC, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, former Prime Minister, said that he undertook the initiative of establishing a Prime Minister's Cell on Polio to ensure monitoring at the highest level. He thanked PILDAT for facilitating a political consensus.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid said that polio threatens human security; it should be declared a threat to national security in Pakistan. He suggested that PILDAT should put together one paragraph that all political parties must include in their upcoming election manifestoes.
Liaquat Baloch of Jammat-e-Islami was joined by other religious parties at the podium in stressing that religion is not obstructing polio eradication in Pakistan.
Party leaders especially asked the Government to provide security to polio workers teams. Some leaders also suggested that political representatives of an area might also join polio teams across communities.
Opening the APC, Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, President PILDAT, said that given the emergency scenario in the spread of polio in Pakistan, PILDAT has convened the APC to facilitate political consensus.
Thirteen parties joining the APC were represented by Senator Shahi Syed (ANP), Dr Jahanzeb Jamaldini (BNP-M), Liaqat Baloch (JI), Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri (JUI-F), Maulana Asmat Ullah (JUI-N), Maulana Hamid Ul Haq Haqqani (JUI-S), Sufyan Yusuf (MQM), Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bezinjo (NP), Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed (PML), Barrister Sultan Mahmood Khan (PML-F), Senator Rafiq Rajwana (PML-N), Syed Yusuf Raza Gailani (PPP), Senator Muhammad Jehangir Bader (PPP) and Mrs. Meraj Humayun of Qaumi Watan Party (QWP). Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi of Pakistan Ulema Council also joined the APC as an observer.
Dr Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Focal Person and Dr Altaf Bosan, National Coordinator of Prime Minister's Polio Monitoring Cell spoke on the occasion followed by Polio partners, Ms. Karen Allan, Deputy Country Representative, UNICEF, Dr. Waqar Ajmal, Senior Programme Manager, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr. Guido Sabatinelli, Country Representative WHO.
The representatives of political parties also signed a six-point joint resolution on the occasion recalling resolution WHA (World Health Assembly) on poliomyelitis where nations of the world made a commitment to eradicate Poliomyelitis; a disease that was paralyzing 350,000 children every year.
The resolution says, "We the political parties of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan affirm our commitment to saving every Pakistani child from disability for life caused by the Polio virus."
It further says the political parties will make polio eradication plan a part of their manifestos for general election 2013 and will declare polio transmission a "National Public Health Emergency" making poliovirus eradication a national priority programme, requiring the development and full implementation of emergency action plans, to be updated every six months, until such time as poliovirus transmission has been interrupted.
The politicians also pledged to allocate resources, both financial and human, for full implementation of all current and future polio eradication strategies as endorsed by international and national technical bodies and forums for polio Eradication.
They also resolved that full implementation of current and new polio eradication strategies by evolving an institution of strong national oversight and accountability mechanisms for all areas affected by poliovirus by instituting an effective elected local government system, which is vital for the eradication of Polio.
The resolution further says that all the political parties appreciate the dedication and efforts of polio workers teams working across Pakistan.