New parliamentary year: State institutions trump individuals, says Mamnoon
President says democracy cannot progress without supremacy of Constitution.
President Mamnoon Hussain addressing the joint sitting of the two houses of parliament on Monday. PHOTO: PPI
ISLAMABAD:
In his first address to a joint sitting of the two houses of parliament on Monday, President Mamnoon Hussain said supremacy of the Constitution and progress of democracy are interdependent, and solutions to all problems should be sought while remaining within the established constitutional framework.
“Democracy does not mean confrontation, conflict, opposition for the sake of opposition or revenge. The spirit of democracy is reconciliation, tolerance and mutual cooperation,” he said in an address that marked the beginning of the second parliamentary year.
“It is the pinnacle of democracy to respect the opinion of majority, to give precedence to national institutions over individuals, and national interest to be given priority over the interests of the respective parties,” he added.
In its actual spirit, being part of the Parliament, the president’s address should review the performance of the government and give guidelines to the administration. But Mamnoon chose to concentrate on strengthening democracy.
“Today, observers and analysts from all over the world are looking at us because for the first time in 60 years of our history, one democratic government completed its constitutional term. Now, another democratic government has completed one year successfully. I understand and realise that people are still facing problems like load shedding, inflation, unemployment and terrorism but I firmly believe that the government is fully committed to resolving issues through the practical, innovative and realistic utilisation of available resources,” he said.
Democratic transition and sustainability need a reconciliatory approach as it a “key through which, closed doors of problems and issues can be unlocked conveniently and successfully”.
Emphasising the need for cooperation and understanding among state institutions, the president said they all should work within the ambit of the Constitution.
He urged the need for cooperation and understanding among the state institutions. “The nation fully realises that cooperation and understanding among state institutions is critically needed at this juncture. At a time when our enemies are actively working to create conflict and discord among us, we need to maintain unity and confidence,” he said.
State institutions should work to set aside their political likes and dislikes and perform their duties in accordance with the law, he added. “Come, let us promise that we will eradicate the curse of terrorism from this country. Let us pledge that we will further promote cooperation and unity among state institutions as their stability is the stability of the state.”
Mamnoon’s marathon speech highlighted the positives of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government with some occasional references to the grave problems the country faces. There was a mention of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), highlighting the sacrifices of the tribesmen in the areas bordering Afghanistan. But he missed other troubled areas such as Balochistan and his own hometown, Karachi.
Chiefs of all the three armed forces, diplomats and other dignitaries witnessed the proceedings from their allocated galleries. Except for a few meek voices, the opposition members – who were in a small number to begin with – remained decorous throughout his speech.
Apart from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, all opposition groups in the Senate – which they practically control the house due to their numerical superiority – boycotted the president’s speech, protesting against what they called the government’s apathy towards the upper house of parliament.
Some opposition parties and pressure groups outside the parliament questioned the legitimacy of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government and levelled rigging allegations in the general elections that brought it into power.
Mamnoon’s predecessor Asif Ali Zardari, whose Pakistan Peoples Party had completed its full five-year term before the country’s first civilian transition of power, had addressed the joint sessions for a record six times. Zardari’s predecessor, military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf had addressed the joint session of parliament he had installed in 2002 only once in five years.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 3rd, 2014.
In his first address to a joint sitting of the two houses of parliament on Monday, President Mamnoon Hussain said supremacy of the Constitution and progress of democracy are interdependent, and solutions to all problems should be sought while remaining within the established constitutional framework.
“Democracy does not mean confrontation, conflict, opposition for the sake of opposition or revenge. The spirit of democracy is reconciliation, tolerance and mutual cooperation,” he said in an address that marked the beginning of the second parliamentary year.
“It is the pinnacle of democracy to respect the opinion of majority, to give precedence to national institutions over individuals, and national interest to be given priority over the interests of the respective parties,” he added.
In its actual spirit, being part of the Parliament, the president’s address should review the performance of the government and give guidelines to the administration. But Mamnoon chose to concentrate on strengthening democracy.
“Today, observers and analysts from all over the world are looking at us because for the first time in 60 years of our history, one democratic government completed its constitutional term. Now, another democratic government has completed one year successfully. I understand and realise that people are still facing problems like load shedding, inflation, unemployment and terrorism but I firmly believe that the government is fully committed to resolving issues through the practical, innovative and realistic utilisation of available resources,” he said.
Democratic transition and sustainability need a reconciliatory approach as it a “key through which, closed doors of problems and issues can be unlocked conveniently and successfully”.
Emphasising the need for cooperation and understanding among state institutions, the president said they all should work within the ambit of the Constitution.
He urged the need for cooperation and understanding among the state institutions. “The nation fully realises that cooperation and understanding among state institutions is critically needed at this juncture. At a time when our enemies are actively working to create conflict and discord among us, we need to maintain unity and confidence,” he said.
State institutions should work to set aside their political likes and dislikes and perform their duties in accordance with the law, he added. “Come, let us promise that we will eradicate the curse of terrorism from this country. Let us pledge that we will further promote cooperation and unity among state institutions as their stability is the stability of the state.”
Mamnoon’s marathon speech highlighted the positives of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government with some occasional references to the grave problems the country faces. There was a mention of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), highlighting the sacrifices of the tribesmen in the areas bordering Afghanistan. But he missed other troubled areas such as Balochistan and his own hometown, Karachi.
Chiefs of all the three armed forces, diplomats and other dignitaries witnessed the proceedings from their allocated galleries. Except for a few meek voices, the opposition members – who were in a small number to begin with – remained decorous throughout his speech.
Apart from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, all opposition groups in the Senate – which they practically control the house due to their numerical superiority – boycotted the president’s speech, protesting against what they called the government’s apathy towards the upper house of parliament.
Some opposition parties and pressure groups outside the parliament questioned the legitimacy of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government and levelled rigging allegations in the general elections that brought it into power.
Mamnoon’s predecessor Asif Ali Zardari, whose Pakistan Peoples Party had completed its full five-year term before the country’s first civilian transition of power, had addressed the joint sessions for a record six times. Zardari’s predecessor, military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf had addressed the joint session of parliament he had installed in 2002 only once in five years.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 3rd, 2014.