Democracy can be strengthened by empowering institutions: Fehmida Mirza

ISLAMABAD: Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) leader Dr Fehmida Mirza on Friday said democracy can be strengthened by empowering the institutions in the country.

The former National Assembly Speaker was making her maiden speech after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was elected as prime minister.

Mirza congratulated Imran Khan on his election as the premier, saying the day was historic and should be dedicated to felicitate him.

She said that she was elected as member of parliament for the fifth time, and the GDA has four crucial votes which can neither make or break the government, while the Lower House will be run according to the parliamentary procedures.

She said that corruption was the biggest problem and was slowing corroding the nation, saying that she was deeply hurt and became hopeless by what she had witnessed. “Corruption is corroding the nation like a termite. It is the root cause of all evil,” she said.

She hoped that the parliament will not merely become a debating club, as the country faces several challenges of foreign policy and terrorism. She said that democracy can be strengthened simply by empowering national institutions.