With the rejection of the opposition’s proposal, accountability and answerability for wrongdoings become useless
KARACHI: In Pakistan, governments have always used their respective tenures to do nothing but to remove laws or constitutional clauses that could be possibly played against them or their regimes. On September 22nd, a similar situation was faced by the opposition in the Senate when its proposal relating to a bill that sought to bar anyone who is disqualified by the Constitution or the judiciary from being a legislator from heading a political party was rejected.
However, this means that the disqualified prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, who was also barred from his party leadership, can now possibly be the head of his party. The MQM too voted against the bill, as the party is also looking for ways to regain its lost footing under Altaf Hussain’s leadership, who informally, handed over the party leadership to the ‘Rabita committee’ after facing allegations following his addresses against the state and the national interest.
In a nutshell, with the rejection of the opposition’s proposal, notions of accountability and answerability for one’s wrongdoings may become useless than ever.
Hasham Mehmood
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2017.
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