KHUSHAB:
Last week, Pakistan celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Constitution with an official ceremony in the parliament. The golden jubilee offers us an opportunity to consider where the country stands today in terms of the implementation of the constitution. First, the Constitution binds different organs of the state to work within their defined domains. However, this delicate balance disrupts when any one organ fails to deliver on promised objectives, leading others to fill the vacuum. In recent political forces have struggled to settle their disputes amicably within parliament through mutual consensus.
The political temperatures have gone up to a point where the government and opposition parties have seemingly ruled out any possibility of negotiations. The judiciary had to step in, assuming the role of primary arbiter in the resolution of political crises. Consensual decision-making is the bedrock of democracy. The Constitution itself and the landmark 18th Amendment had materialised owing to the unanimity of warring political factions despite bitter hostilities. The country is mired in multiple crises today including economic and security challenges.
The deep political polarisation is aggravating the challenges pushing the country towards chaos. Political forces are unwilling to form a consensus to address issues faced by ordinary citizens.
The absence of opposition in the parliament has impeded the process of debate over pressing issues facing the country. The ongoing political crises do not bode well for the supremacy of the Constitution. All political forces should commit to upholding the basic tenets of the Constitution over their petty interests. Besides, the stature of the parliament should be restored to its true spirit, enabling it to assume a leading role in the formulation of national policies.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2023.
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