PM Imran never took parliament into confidence over foreign visits, says Rabbani

PPP senator says 1973 Constitution holds the key of resolving all national issues

PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Imran Khan never took parliament and the nation into confidence over his foreign visits including his tour to China Pakistan Peoples Party senior leader Senator Raza Rabbani said on Monday.

He was speaking at the fourth International Conference “The 1973 Constitution; Status and Role of the Institutions” organised by the University of Peshawar department of history in collaboration with Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) at the varsity’s Area Study Centre.

“Foreign policy is doubtful and weak in this government,” Senator Raza Rabbani said. The PM visited China twice but he never briefed parliament about what he discussed there.

The PPP stalwart said that the country is being pushed towards centralised system but they will defend democracy and democracy will win.

He said that the 1973 Constitution has not been implemented in its true letter and spirit and whenever a dictator comes he abolishes it.

The 1973 Constitution was made by popularly elected representatives of the people and remains the true reflection of the will of the people of federating units, political ideologies and religious schools of thought.

Rabbani added that it is the 1973 Constitution which gave Council of Common Interest (CCI), National Economic Council (NEC), National Finance Commission (NFC), Auditor General, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Council of Islamic Ideology (CII).

“Over 70 years past the independence we are still talking about improving the institutions in the country, all we have to do is implement the Constitution in its true spirit,” he said.

He further said that CCI is the representative of all provinces, but consecutive governments failed to give due attention to the institution meant to resolve issues among the federating units. He said that CCI does not have its own secretariat as yet. Rabbani suggested that the prime minister should chair the meetings of CCI.

Speaking on the occasion, CII Chairman Prof Qibla Ayaz showered praise for the founders and architects of 1973 Constitution who were representing political and religious diversity of the country, at that time. He pointed out that unlike Pakistan where there is parliamentary democracy due to 1973 Constitution Islamic essence , Somalia, Egypt and Libya face constitutional turmoil due to lack of Islamic provisions.

UoP Vice Chancellor Dr Asif Khan and Prof Salman Bangash also spoke on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2018.