RAWALPINDI: This is with reference to the article “A failed state” by Attaur Rahman (February 22). He has stated that it was the Supreme Court that abolished the feudal system in Bangladesh and paved the way for democracy. In this context, I would like to say that the feudal system was abolished in 1934 in the former East Bengal, by its provincial legislative assembly when Khawaja Nazimuddin of the Muslim League was the chief minister of the province. It is the job of the political parties and the legislative assemblies to make laws and not that of the courts, which are only supposed to interpret laws. Dr Rahman has also stated that parliamentarians should have a Master’s degree as their primary role is that of making laws. By this criterion, only a limited number of lawyers would be eligible to become parliamentarians. This would be the total negation of democracy.
Dr Rahman talks frequently, of the need for a presidential system and rule by technocrats. In the US, which follows the presidential system, the presidential cabinet consists of people who have experience of political work and are endorsed by political committees. It would also be interesting to mention an incident involving Winston Churchill. Lord Morgan was Churchill’s personal physician and a close friend. The former British prime minister enquired of Lord Morgan whether he would like to be appointed to an official position. Lord Morgan asked for the job of the health minister. Churchill was taken aback and told Lord Morgan that he was asking for a political appointment without having any political experience. He then gave Lord Morgan a technical advisory job.
It would be pertinent to point out that it was a technocrat, Ghulam Mohammad, who was the originator of political intrigue and conspiracies in the country and was responsible for destroying the basic fabric of the state of Pakistan. As a result of all that, we ended up being ruled by illegitimate politicians who were created, groomed and developed by dictatorial regimes.
Professor Dr Mahmud Ahmad Akhtar
Published in The Express Tribune, March 5th, 2013.
