Another petition filed on presidential system

Alleges the country’s resources are being wasted

ISLAMABAD:

Another petition was filed on Friday in the Supreme Court, seeking direction to the prime minister and the cabinet for holding a referendum about the establishment of presidential form of government in Pakistan.

The petition was filed by Islamabad citizen Dr Sadiq Ali. It alleges that under the parliamentary system – which is currently being followed in the country – the government has failed.“The country’s resources are being wasted. Islam forbids wasting of resources,” it reads.

The petition states that a referendum should be conducted, seeking the public’s opinion about the type of government system they want to be followed in the country.

The petitioner has sought direction from the apex court to the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the federal cabinet to hold a referendum. It also prayed the court to live-telecast the case proceedings.

The petition has named the prime minister and the federal cabinet as respondents in the case.

The top court has been moved for the second time with similar sort of petition as on Thursday a constitutional petition was filed by Tahir Aziz Khan, the chairman of a political party called the Hum Awam Pakistan, under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution. One of the main objectives of the Hum Awam Pakistan is to establish presidential form of government in the country.

According to the petition, it is apparent from the print, electronic and social media that an overwhelming majority of the people are “fed up with the parliamentary form of government and want to adopt the presidential form of government.”

It stated that currently Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world with an estimated population of 212 million people. As per the United Nations’ observations, such a population is estimated to reach 403 million by 2050, the petition stated.

“In our parliamentary system, members of parliament are in the habit of changing loyalties and are out to blackmail and pressurise the government to promote their own personal interests,” reads the Hum Awam Pakistan’s petition.

“It is for this reason that often a healthy opposition and a strong government are not there to take care of the welfare and wellbeing of the people. Similarly, there is little legislation in the assemblies and the meetings of legislatures often fail due to shortage of quorum. The monitoring role of the opposition is therefore often compromised,” it adds.