After Senator Farhatullah Babar, another stalwart of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Raza Rabbani on Wednesday floated the idea of a civil-military dialogue through the platform of a parliamentary committee.
While speaking in the ongoing joint session of parliament, Senator Rabbani suggested the formation of three new parliamentary committees, including one on the pattern of National Security Committee, to discuss all related issues. This committee can play an important role in the given situation, he said, adding that “as an institution, parliament should take all stakeholders, including the military establishment, ISI and interior ministry”.
The idea was first floated by PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar during the joint session. There has been an unending war between the establishment and civil governments that had manifested itself in the past in various forms and through different players, he said.
Babar suggested that the committee (for such a dialogue) should either be headed by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed from the PML-Q or Senator Raza Rabbani from the PPP.
Senator Rabbani, however, proposed formation of three new parliamentary bodies – a committee similar to the NSC to discuss important national issues, foreign policy issues; a joint rules and privileges committee to strengthen parliamentary practices; and a committee on legislative affairs that could rectify errors so bills could sail through both houses of parliament without any hindrance or delay.
Senator Rabbani’s proposal received some serious attention from the treasury benches. Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also asked members of the federal cabinet to confer with opposition parties on the proposal.
In a separate proposal, Senator Rabbani asked the Foreign Office to take up the issue of discriminatory aid distribution by Indian authorities among the flood-affected population of occupied Kashmir.
PPP Senator Saeed Ghani’s speech was another important highlight of Wednesday’s session. He criticised top military commanders for their role in the current political mess. He said that the corps commanders have no right to elaborate public aspiration. Senator Ghani said he wondered why the Supreme Court was not taking notice and ordering relocation of protesters from the Constitution Avenue.
Senator Rehman Malik and MNA Dr Ramesh Kumar also clarified their positions on their alleged mistreatment as they were offloaded from a PIA flight two days ago.
MNA Kumar demanded an inquiry against PIA officials. “The flight was not delayed because of me, there was a technical fault,” he told the lawmakers. “When I reached the airport at 6:15am, I was told that it will take off at 8:30am instead of 7:00am,” MNA Kumar said, referring to the flight he was offloaded from along with Malik by other passengers for being the apparent cause of delay.
In amateur videos that went viral, MNA Kumar is seen walking into the plane with his carry-on, greeted not just by the usual sight of crew and smiling air hostesses, but by a group of angry passengers. MNA Kumar censured PIA for not releasing a statement on time to clarify that he and Senator Malik were not the reason for the delay.
“The PIA crew did not even provide us with security as they saw a former minister [Rehman Malik] leave,” he said, adding that making videos onboard an aircraft was against the policy of Civil Aviation administration. “The media aired the videos without investigating into the incident,” he said. “I, myself, am against the VIP culture,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2014.
COMMENTS (10)
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Senator or any thing, these fraud degree politician are just no match to our Army, that is Internationally Top Graded professional Army. What do they want to talk? The President of Pakistan should be from Army with a cabinet of technocrates, which should guide these elected lot rather should teach them the methods of governance. The so called elected representatives of the people should just be restrained till Assemblies and partcipate in lagislation only, no execution strictly.
This coming from a Parliament that considers itself elected but with big question marks. Then day in and day out chants come out of the house about saving democracy.So this is what it was all about.Both stalwarts are from PPP the opposition party if you can call it that. In the world of politics our opposition is unique because it is difficult to distinguish between Treasury and Opposition in this August/September House.This is not the first time PPP has raised this ludicrous idea and it is no secret why.The way Nawaz and his Gulloos have received it, also tells the story. By all democratic norms this Parliament has lost all credibility and dignity simply by proposing this. It is my considered opinion that matter was debated in the PM Chambers with Opposition and then tabled.After all it is hard to distinduish between the two.
Discreminatory distribution is better than no distribution . A country where govt. remain held up due to political and terror politics during emergency has no locus standii to comment on the affaires of other country . At least one who is getting food in flood will feed only those who deserve it rest will flushed in jhelum to Pakistan .
This is certainly a positive discourse. National security council could be the right forum to discuss all issues regarding national security in its holistic perspective. A mechanism needs to be evolved to take civilians (parliament not jus Govt.) and forces (not jus army) input on national security matters. This forum should make formal recommendations and executive shall be bound to consider them (similar to meaningful consultation b/w PM and leader of opposition for care taker PM etc. etc.) Dubbing this arrangement as accepting army role is incorrect and military should not indulge in politics sparing being part & parcel of national security policy and decisions. Politicians shall understand that this country need 15-20 years of smooth functioning of Govt. and governance with stability of policies on economic as well as social fronts. Governance set up has to deliver to the people at large to prevent future attempts to turning back the clock on civilian’s right to rule, but has to be nurtured thru delivery & transparency. Military also needs to understand that the world has changes and so are warfare and basic concepts of national interest & security. This country needs to lay the ground rules and have a system in place to ensure that everyone follow them. Pakistan is India, China, US or France so the arrangement has to be based on ground realities & it’s typical situation. If Nawaz Sharif & Zardari can help do this for this country, history will remember them as a great patriot and leaders of this country despite their previous lows. But sadly looking at their track record does not suggest any hope. Unless the rules are defined and defended and governance delivers to the people of this country, unfortunately Pakistan does not seem to be going any further and we'll never be short of dummies to side with angels.
Did the parliament ever sit together to eliminate VIP curse and corruption in this country ???
This joint session has proved to be toothless so far. No discussions on the real problems and just focusing on their anti PTI rhetoric. These parliamentarians have been badly exposed. Read here: http://khattakspeaks.wordpress.com/
PPP stands for Plunder Public(Money) when in Power. They have eaten into vitals of Pakistan & now wants to sell its skeleton.
Good suggestion, we have to face the reality that army has its role in politics and give them due role....but my question is when if I recall Nawaz Sharif proposed some 3/4 years back that a committee comprising all stake holders including army should be formed to decide the power structure and current issue all parties including PPP extremely opposed and NS went back footing.... now if they realized that NS was right at that time, must constitute a forum which share powers among all stake holders. otherwise this power fight will destroy country and puppets like TUQ, IK and Choudries are always available to use them against state....!
Let us make one fact clear. The senate is not the result of 2013 elections but was elected during past elections under military dictator. Senate is the guarantor of federation and as such should be respected. By calling all the senate members names and insulting them the extremist rightwing leaders have insulted the smaller provinces. No wonder IK has no presence in the senate! Let us pay attention to what these senators are saying as they are not the product of the so-called rigged elections but represent federating units.