ISLAMABAD: Senate former Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani has written an open letter to legislators of Parliament and provincial assemblies, cautioning them about what he called erosion of democratic institutions and their fading away into redundancy.
He reminded that all the civilian stakeholders in the federal, democratic and parliamentary system are committed to and steadfast to their oath prescribed in the Constitution, 1973. However, he believed the current parliamentary impasse has created a situation wherefrom within, wittingly or unwittingly, the institutions are being weakened, eroded and fading into redundancy. “Political workers, who were tortured, whipped, went missing and martyred in the struggle for the restoration of the rule of law, the Constitution, 1973, and for the federal parliamentary system. They did not sacrifice their all so that we should preside over the dismantling of these institutions and eventually the democratic system. It was for this purpose that we constructed a monument in memory of their historic struggle and sacrifices within the premises of Parliament to serve as a constant reminder, that it was through the sweat, toil and blood of these millions that we achieved this system,” he said.
Rabbani wrote, “Agreeing to disagree is the essence of democratic polity. Parliaments in international jurisdiction and our own have seen fierce disagreements on internal and external policies but within the limits prescribed by the Rules of Procedure. Unfortunately, in the present context our acquisitions are frivolous, personal and repetitious. Rumi teaches us that our worst enemy is hiding within ourselves and that enemy is our ‘naffs’ or false ego. A question that each one of us must ask ourselves is, will we permit our egos to weaken our institutions or shall we open a window in the centre of our chest and let the evil grudges fly out to enable institutions to flourish and take up people and Pakistan related issues.”
To restore the supremacy of Parliament, Rabbani suggested these amongst other steps; (i) The restoration of the respect and dignity of the Office of the Chairman Senate and Speaker, National Assembly of Pakistan. (ii) The chairman Senate and Speaker, National Assembly of Pakistan, to act freely, fairly and impartially in accordance with the Rules and Constitution, as required by their Office. (iii) The House business committees, functioning under their respective presiding officers, should provide collective leadership to the respective House’s and their decisions be implemented in letter and spirit. (iv) The presiding officers, in these difficult times, should judiciously use the rule of, “naming a member” or “suspending a member” in cases of indiscipline on the floor of the House. (v) The members should not raise slogans in the House, instead they should use recognised parliamentary tools and modes of protest. (vi) The ministers and Members are not to use abusive or slanderous language. (vii) The parliamentary affairs minister or any other minister, so designated, must continuously engage with the Opposition in reference to the business of the House. (viii) The ministers must be in the House when business stands in their name. (ix) The decision taken in the House committees or by presiding officers should not ordinarily be revisited. (x) The internal proceedings including decisions taken in Parliament should not be agitated at other fora such as courts of law, as provided in the Constitution in 1973. (xi) The Opposition while exercising its right of political oversight and accountability of the Executive, should remain within the Rules of Procedures.