Senate resolution affirms supremacy of parliament

Notes a ‘systematic campaign’ is being run to undermine federal parliamentary form of govt

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate on Monday passed three resolutions, including one which noted that a “systematic campaign” in a section of the media and social media was being run to undermine the federal parliamentary form of government.

The upper house met under the chairmanship of Sadiq Sanjrani.

The resolution against the debate on presidential form of government in the country was tabled by Senator Raza Rabbani on behalf of the opposition.

The House took cognizance that a campaign was propagating a presidential form of government, recalling that “the Founder of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, envisages a Federal Parliamentary form of Government as his vision for Pakistan.”

It recalled that the people of Pakistan had relentlessly struggled and sacrificed for a federal parliamentary form of government.

The resolution observed that a presidential form of government would introduce a unitary form of government, wherein the entire constitution of 1973 would be required to be rewritten.

It resolved to preserve and protect the parliamentary form of government as envisaged in the constitution.

Leader of the House Dr Shahzad Waseem categorically denied any association with the debate on presidential form of government.

“I categorically deny any link with the debate initiated on social media,” Dr Waseem said, adding that it was the stance of the PTI government from day one that fake news was being circulated to create confusion.

Another resolution, which was passed unanimously, read that the Senate recognised the significance of parliamentary diplomacy concerning smooth and efficient conduct of parliamentary relations and forging socioeconomic, political, strategic and cultural contacts amongst the parliaments in general and states in particular in pursuance of the national interest”.

The upper house of parliament further acknowledged the role played by the members of parliament in raising voices on issues of common interests through effective participation in bilateral and multilateral parliamentary fora including International Parliamentary Union, Parliamentary Union of Islamic Countries, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and Asian Parliamentary Assembly.

The House recommended that members of parliament who had been designated by the foreign governments be appointed as honorary consul general of the particular country in Pakistan to strengthen the existing people-to-people contact and improve relations in above areas.

In the third resolution, Senate highlighted the importance of rail connectivity amongst the neighbouring countries for revenue generation, promotion of business and tourism.

The House suggested that the government should take steps for running passenger and freight trains between Quetta and Zahidan to facilitate travelling of pilgrims, tourists and business community from Pakistan to Iran and boost trade on the pattern of recently resumed freight service from Pakistan to Turkey via Iran.