Behind the scenes of constitutional revival

Third tenure of PPP government has earned all the negative epithets it could earn for its performance.

ISLAMABAD:

The third tenure of the Pakistan Peoples Party government has earned all the negative epithets it could earn for its performance. It will, however, be remembered for its historic achievement in bringing the 18th Amendment to the constitution and giving Pakistan a federal structure.

Raza Rabbani happens to be the mother and midwife of the amendment. His book, A Biography of Pakistani Federalism, is the story of this transition.

Strong centre

During the hampered growth of democracy, federalism too remained a victim as the centre, under dictators, was not ready to shed its powers.

Decentralisation was anathema to the ears of the establishment which used the cover of ideology, strong centre and the threat of fissiparous forces to keep the provinces under its heel.  Even the breaking away of the majority wing, former East Pakistan, could not awaken it to the dangers of a strong centre.

Military dictators defaced constitutions for their own benefits, “leading to an excessive centrist, quasi-presidential form of government”, the author says in the preface.

After the liberalisation of the media, however, the winds of change could not be stopped.

Rabbani traces the history of this movement in his book, which provides a thorough understanding of the concept of federalism, and a brief history of constitutional evolution.

Amendments

The book also elaborates the drafting of the 18th and 19th amendments which, the author believes, will ensure delegation of powers to their real custodians.

“I don’t believe in ‘thin democracy’ that rules out the citizens’ collective role to address their problems. On the contrary, I endorse the philosophy of the economic vote. I believe that people elect their representatives based upon economic performance,” the author says.

Being chairman of the parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms, Rabbani gives an authentic account of activities held for the drafting and passage of the 18th and 19th amendments.

“We must abandon the philosophy that a strong centre is the guarantee of a robust Pakistan and realise that only by strengthening the provinces will we ensure a stable federation,” the authors says.

The Biography of Pakistani Federalism is a valuable book on the revival of the Constitution and must be included in the curriculum at graduation and masters levels.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2012.