Political leaders, democracy advocates, civil society representatives, academics, journalists, lawyers, youth activists and human rights defenders on Thursday called for reclaiming democratic spaces, strengthening constitutional governance and protecting fundamental rights in Pakistan while expressing concern over the country’s political, economic and institutional challenges.
The demands were made at a Democracy Summit titled ‘United for Democracy: Reclaiming Democratic Spaces and Protecting Rights,’ organised by Rawadari Tehreek at a local hotel in Karachi.
Speakers from across the political and civil society spectrum stressed the need for democratic reforms, institutional accountability, protection of marginalised communities and a comprehensive national political dialogue to address the country’s growing challenges.
Addressing the summit, former senator and senior PPP leader Raza Rabbani criticised the influence of international financial institutions on Pakistan’s policymaking, alleging that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was dictating an agenda that adversely affected ordinary citizens.
He expressed concern that the federal government’s budget announcement had been delayed due to IMF-related considerations, arguing that such external influence undermined democratic decision-making.
Mr Rabbani also blamed both civil and military bureaucracies for weakening democratic institutions over the years. He stated that authoritarian rulers had historically viewed students and workers as major forces of democratic resistance and therefore systematically weakened student unions and trade unions.
He added that dictators had been aware that students and workers were the principal forces of resistance; therefore, they targeted and weakened their representative organisations. Pakistan Awam Party leader and former finance minister Miftah Ismail emphasised that democracy began with free, fair and transparent elections. Referring to the 2018 general elections, he claimed that they had not been conducted fairly and alleged that political opponents of former prime minister Imran Khan had been imprisoned during his tenure.
Mr Ismail stressed that constitutional rights must be guaranteed to all citizens in a democratic republic, particularly vulnerable and marginalised groups. He called for greater protection of the rights of women, transgender persons, religious and linguistic minorities, and the people of Balochistan. He urged citizens and political leaders alike to raise their voices for the protection of human rights and democratic freedoms.
He also criticised economic policies that, according to him, disproportionately benefited powerful sectors while vulnerable segments of society faced social stigma. Mr Ismail pointed out that the sugar and fertilizer industries received subsidies worth billions of rupees, yet beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) were often unfairly labelled as beggars.
He stated that the rights and dignity of the poor and marginalised should be defended rather than stigmatised. Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) leader Safdar Abbasi voiced concern over what he described as a growing crisis of legitimacy in the country’s institutions. He stated that the country had not been able to create legitimacy and that there were no fully legitimate institutions in the country.
Mr Abbasi maintained that while democratic forces had repeatedly resisted authoritarian tendencies, democracy itself remained weak within political parties. He also criticised the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments, arguing that they had negatively affected democratic governance.
Warning of worsening national conditions, he said Pakistan was moving towards instability and possible anarchy due to economic mismanagement and institutional weaknesses. He remarked that the economy was in shambles and that around 80 per cent of government revenue was being consumed by debt repayments.
Several other prominent figures also addressed the summit, including President of the Sindh High Court Bar Association Haseeb Jamali, Jeay Sindh Mahaz Chairman Riaz Ali Chandio, scholar and writer Jami Chandio, and human rights expert and former chairperson of the Sindh Human Rights Commission Iqbal Ahmed Detho.
The speakers highlighted a range of issues including constitutional rights, provincial autonomy, rule of law, democratic accountability, freedom of expression and the need to strengthen public institutions.
At the conclusion of the event, participants reaffirmed their commitment to defending democratic freedoms, resisting authoritarian tendencies and opposing discrimination, exclusion and the suppression of dissenting voices. They pledged to continue advocating for freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and equal rights for all citizens regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender or social background.
Vice Chairman of Rawadari Tehreek Pakistan Deedar Ahmed Mirani presented the Karachi Declaration on behalf of the summit’s participants and speakers. A key recommendation contained in the declaration was the initiation of a comprehensive national political dialogue involving all major stakeholders.
According to the declaration, Pakistan’s political, economic and security challenges required a collective and unified response. Participants argued that meaningful dialogue could help reduce political polarisation, ease tensions among institutions and political actors, address security concerns through consensus and create conditions necessary for sustainable development.
The declaration further called upon state institutions to operate strictly within their constitutional mandates and avoid authoritarian overreach. Participants urged political parties and public institutions to work towards making governance more inclusive, transparent, accountable and responsive to citizens’ needs. They also emphasised that strengthening the rule of law and combating corruption were essential for rebuilding public trust in democratic institutions.
On electoral reforms, the summit observed that although Pakistan’s electoral framework contained important safeguards, concerns arose when state institutions failed to maintain neutrality. Participants recommended dialogue among all stakeholders to enhance transparency, fairness and public confidence in future elections.
The declaration also underscored the importance of provincial autonomy within Pakistan’s federal structure. Participants maintained that national unity becomes stronger when provinces enjoy meaningful authority over their affairs.
They described greater provincial autonomy as a democratic necessity that could contribute to political stability, economic development and national cohesion. The summit concluded with a collective pledge by participants to continue working for democratic governance, constitutional supremacy, human rights and an inclusive political order in Pakistan.