Constitution Day: Rabbani wants people to own democracy

Senate chairman says devolution would further strengthen democracy .

ISLAMABAD:

Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani has called for devolution of powers in the ‘truest sense’ to the federating units and people’s ownership of democratic culture to strengthen democracy in the country.

He was speaking at a ceremony organised by the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage at Lok Virsa on Friday to commemorate the Constitution day.

Pakistan observed the day as a national event for the first time. The current constitution — the third in Pakistan’s history — was unanimously passed by parliament on April 10, 1973.



The day was dedicated to the thousands of Pakistanis who sacrificed their possessions, faced torture and imprisonment, and even lost their lives while defending the sanctity of the document during dictatorial regimes.

“They [unsung heroes] faced state-backed terrorism but never opted to leave the path of federalism and the constitution,” said Raza Rabbani - who was the chief guest at the event.

Lok Virsa’s theme for the day was “Unity in Diversity”.

“The constitution of Pakistan calls for the propagation of a democratic culture in the country, and if the political leadership refuses to hand over ownership of this culture to the people, it would cause substantial harm to democracy and democratic values,” Rabbani said.

Rabbani said it was because of the unprecedented unanimity of the federation and its units on the Constitution of Pakistan that whenever a military dictator derailed democracy, he found himself unable to abrogate it and could only opt to hold it in abeyance to serve his purpose.

Rabbani urged the youth to remember that it was their prime responsibility to preserve, protect and defend the constitution in the face of any challenge.

Senator Afrasiab Khattak said that there was a need to truly implement articles 8 through 39 of the constitution — which compel the state to protect its people and their fundamental rights.

Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr Fouzia Saeed shed light on the objective behind holding the Constitution Day with special reference to the mandate of Lok Virsa, which works on research, collection, documentation, preservation and dissemination of Pakistan’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani receives a gift from a girl in recognition of his services for restoring the constitution on the Constitution Day(R) Cultural artists perform at the ceremony in Lok Virsa (L). PHOTOS:  MUHAMMAD JAVAID/EXPRESS

The event was also attended by the ambassadors of Austria, Hungry and Indonesia, senators, members of civil society and citizens of the twin cities.

The ceremony concluded with performances including sword dance from Gilgit-Baltistan, musical recital on traditional Chitrali sitar, dance of Kalash ensemble, Marwari singers of Bheel community, Cholistan, Tharparkar, Brahvi and Punjabi songs.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2015.