Article 6 has become redundant: Rabbani

Says history of derailment of democracy alienated people from their representatives

ISLAMABAD: The sense of alienation in the people with their representatives in parliament and the disconnect between the government and the governed allowed adventurists in the past to derail the democratic system and abrogate the Constitution, said Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani on Thursday.

The 1973 Constitution of Pakistan has an inbuilt mechanism to ensure the continuity of the system through Article 6 which suggests death penalty to any usurper who takes over the country, dissolves parliament or abrogates the Constitution.

The seasoned politician hinted that the prevailing situation in the country is showing a departure from constitutionalism. “Article 6 of the Constitution has become redundant in given circumstances and posed a serious question to Parliament and democracy,” he said addressing the launch of new website of the Senate.

Read: Under article 6: LHC reserves ruling in case seeking PM’s trial

He did not talk about the reasons and factors which made Article 6 redundant, saying “I don’t want to get into the nitty-gritty.” He did, however, mention “the country’s chequered history of derailment of democracy that alienated people from their representatives.”

Rabbani pointed out people’s disconnect with parliament was one of the reasons for past adventurism and said “unless a common man comes forward for the defence of system, legislation will be of no use.”

The masses would come forward only when they feel a sense of belonging and ownership, have access and feel that parliament was somehow trying to find out solutions to their problems. “Right now the downtrodden segment of society is not prepared to defend parliament,” he said.

Read: Constitution Day: Rabbani wants people to own democracy

It was in this context that the Senate introduced the initiative of public petition, Rabbani said and added that response to the initiative was overwhelming.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2015.