True democracy: Senators recall people’s sacrifices

Khawaja said Pakistan should review its policy towards neighbouring countries as war would serve no one’s purpose

ISLAMABAD: Underlining the need for entrusting more powers to the upper house of parliament, Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani on Thursday observed that the House of Federation loses its importance in parliament’s joint sitting due to its numerical strength suggesting ‘the issue needs to be reviewed’.

The observation came during the debate to commemorate the International Day of Democracy (observed on September 15).

“The Senate’s importance overshadows in the joint sitting of parliament. The Lower House has 342 votes against the Upper House’s 104. It kills the concept of true representation,” the chairman observed.

During the debate legislators irrespective of their party affiliation paid rich tributes to political leaders, workers, poets, writers, labourers, journalists, etc., who rendered great sacrifices for the cause of democracy over the period of time amid calls for implementing democracy in the true sense within political parties.

Senator Farhatullah Babar said in the past political parties and the judiciary were held responsible for endorsing constitutional deviations. However, under the 2006 Charter of Democracy, political parties had decided never to endorse unconstitutional takeovers and subsequently the Supreme Court also buried the Doctrine of Necessity and the concept of PCO judges, he added.

He said there was a need that power be devolved to the grassroots level through local governments, which should be duly empowered — both financially and administratively. “The culture of sacred cow needs to be addressed,” he said.

PPP Senator Taj Haider said democracy and terrorism cannot go side by side. “This is time to stop unnecessary involvement of some institutions in the affairs of the state,” he said, adding the government should remove the atmosphere of confrontation in the country so that the third force could not get the opportunity to grab power again.

PPP Senator Sehr Kamran said real democracy demands the Prime Minister of Pakistan to come to the Senate and answer some unanswered questions related to Panama leaks.

Senator Tahir Mashhadi said in spite of a rich struggle of political workers and people from all walks of life Pakistan was still far away from true democratic culture. “There is no democracy until everyone is equal before law. Unfortunately, it’s not so,” he said.

PPP Naveed Khawaja said military dictators disintegrated the society. He said Pakistan should review its policy towards neighbouring countries as war would serve no one’s purpose.

Meanwhile, the Senate was informed by Minister of Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan during question-hour that 15% quota has been reserved for women to encourage their participation in international trade fairs, exhibitions and delegations.

He said the government is also providing 50% subsidy on participation fee to women entrepreneurs. _.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2016.