Martial law, whether military or judicial, not in national interest: Rabbani

KARACHI: Former Senate chairman Senator Raza Rabbani has said that martial law, whether being of the military or of judicial nature, are both not in the national interest. “Situation in the country went from bad to worse owing to martial laws in the past as there was no improvement at all. At present, the country has been facing terrorism so it is advisable to be more cautious,” he said. The former Senate chairman stated this as he addressed a programme held here at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, on Saturday in memory of senior left-wing political activist Jam Saqi.

He said that any attempt to rollback the 18th Constitutional Amendment would weaken the federalism being the very basis of Pakistan. He said that Pakistan had come into being on the basis of federalism as the Muslim majority states in the Indian Sub-continent had demanded the formation of a Federation. He said that weakening of the Federation would lead to serious repercussions for the state. He said that withdrawal of 18th Constitutional Amendment would lead to any accident in the country.

The former Senate chairman said that given the current internal and external situation of the country, it was very much advisable not to open any such new front. He said that withdrawal of the 18th Constitutional Amendment would create a dangerous situation especially, when the provinces still didn’t have sufficient powers. “By doing so, such people will become a threat who at present are talking about strengthening of the Federation,” said the former Senate chairman.

He said that state of Pakistan was getting weakened owing to the unholy alliance between the influential quarters.

Raza Rabbani said that during the past, the Bengali language in the country had not been given the status of a national language despite that Bengalis were in the majority at the time of creation of Pakistan. “The federation becomes endangered if we start talking about the Article 251 of (of the Constitution), which pertains to the languages,” he said.

He said that provinces didn’t have complete authority to adopt education curriculum on their own despite that such an authority had been devolved to them under the 18th Constitutional Amendment. “At present, the curriculum of Pakistan Studies teaches 11 benefits of dictatorship while it teaches just eight benefits of democratic rule,” said Raza Rabbani. “Provinces are fully empowered to adopt curricula on their own,” he said.

Federal Minister Hasil Khan Bizenjo said the Pakistani society was in desperate search of good people more than ever before in history of the country. He said it was unfortunate that youth in the country had started following politicians like Imran Khan for the sake of change.

“Someone told me to bring to them Raza Rabbani so that he would be made the chairman (Senate). I replied that he (Raza Rabbani) would prefer to resign but he would never leave the party,” he said. “We are associated with the same ideology though we belong to different political parties,” said Bizenjo. “So on behalf of all the audience, I call upon Raza Rabbani to find some way out to strengthen democracy as the country will do progress with strengthening of democracy,” he said.

PML-N leader Shah Mohammad Shah said that his party had nominated Raza Rabbani as the candidate for the election of new Senate chairman owing to his exemplary services for democracy.

Senior lawyer Rasheed A Razvi said that Jami Saqi was considered to be an important chapter of Pakistani political history as he earned distinction as an exemplary student and labour leader who had always fought for his principles. He said that Jam Saqi had always stood for his principles despite imprisoned several times.