Pakistan

Senate proceedings: Democracy suits the country, says Rabbani

Denounces Hameed Gul’s call for suspending Constitution

Our Correspondent June 13, 2015

Senator Raza Rabbani. PHOTO: EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD:

Rejecting the rhetoric of a former spymaster over democracy and military role, Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani said on Friday that the military “is a truly professional force and understands that democracy is in favour of this state”.

“Those who are talking about packing up of democratic setup will not be tolerated,” he remarked after Senator Usman Kakar informed the house that former DG Inter-Services Intelligence Lt-Gen Hameed Gul in an interview called for military rule in the country.

“Army should take the country’s command for a short period and act professionally, and if it does not take over, there would be a civil war in Pakistan,” Gul said. “Freedom of expression is not a licence. Such a wish is against the spirit of true democracy,” Rabbani said.

During the course of proceedings, Senator Usman Kakar drew attention towards Hameed Gul’s statement in which he asked for the “Constitution to be suspended”. Kakar called for filing of a case against the former DG ISI under Article 6 as Gul was asking for abrogating the Constitution.

In response to his point of order, senators Farahatullah Babar and Saeed Ghani also urged fellow lawmakers and the media not to give importance to such an irresponsible statement which is nothing “but a way of earning cheap fame”.

They urged the government to take strong notice of this statement and go for a legal action against Gul, if there is any ground.

Budget debate

During the proceedings, senators hardly showed any interest in the budget debate. A few of them, however, took part in the discussion and gave some proposals.

Senator Mohsin Khan Leghari said that indirect taxes on the masses are illegal, urging the government to expand the tax net. “Everyone should be bound to pay tax, which is the only way for nation’s prosperity.”

“New budget is a joy for me,” said Senator Shahi Syed of Awami National Party, adding, “But the thing which let me down is the ministers’ poor response to debate it.”

Senator Attaur Rehman of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam endorsed Shahi Syed’s statement and urged the lawmakers to come up with better proposals to make this year’s budget more realistic. Senator Shibli Fraz of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf also lamented the lack of interest showed by his fellow colleagues to debate the budget.

“Lessening customs duty on various imported products will hurt the local industry,” he said and urged the government to review this proposal. Later, the debate on budget was adjourned till Monday.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2015.

COMMENTS (13)

Aschraful Makhlooq | 8 years ago | Reply The one and only democracy of Pakistan in the world without foreign minister after Shah Mehmood Qureshi and this proves that PML-N has not any intelligent,educated and capable minister who could take charge as a foreign minister or PML-N doesn't trust any minister or doesn't consider any minister capable for this the most important key post whereas PML-N claims that it has qualified ministers' team....

F Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Rabbani Sb. there is a difference between democracy and awami democracy. I hope you understand the difference between the two. We do not want a democracy where the head of the biggest political party is called Mr.10% and the party gives 2 back to back corrupt PM's in 5 years (the two most corrupt PM's in the history of this country). The chairman of the party has a palace like houses in all major cities of the county donated by real estate tycoons.They ruling family has houses in london, france, spain, new york etc. The party gives government jobs to party workers and supporters as a tool to get votes. Bhai Sb, hum aisi jamhooriat say baaz aya.

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Ashraf | 8 years ago | Reply Here we go again! From murmers to headlines, it would seem that Pakistan is doomed to the eternal cycle of military takeovers and ballots alternatively. One Sharif goes another steps in.

raider | 8 years ago | Reply your democracy failed to comply with wishes of peoples for last 7 years, we have tired now, put all these corrupt, money launderers looters, plunderers, killers behind the bar, ban them from politics once for all plz if there exit any sane human with powers to do that

Rumormonger | 8 years ago | Reply Verily, since 2008, democracy has proven itself to be the revenge, the people deserve for voting in the people we have.

Kemal | 8 years ago | Reply It's trying time in every respect for this nation; Let's not protect any corrupt regimes in the name of democracy, let's be honest to our self and that also with the general masses.

Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply No Sir,........this is your version of democracy and it DOES NOT SUIT THE PEOPLE....... IT SUITS YOU AND YOUR ILK.

Hugh Slaman | 8 years ago | Reply I pray that the Army stays out of politics and concentrates on developing as an Army. We need them to do what they are very good at, and that which makes us all feel proud of them, namely fighting; we, the civilians, will in time fix the democratic system by the grace of Allah. No civil war is going to happen, inshaAllah, as long as the Army is doing its Constitutional job as an Army.

the Skunk | 8 years ago | Reply "True democracy?" Haaah! What a wish with corrupt, illiterate, and 'do-nothing' politicians sitting on the saddle, who will cherish the 18th amendment authored by Raza Rabbani. Democracy without accountability...NO THANK YOU. Democracy without de-politicized LEAs...NO THANK YOU. Democracy without educated legislators...NO THANK YOU. Democracy without new social and criminal laws...NO THANK YOU. Democracy without water, health and education...NO THANK YOU. Democracy without new provinces...NO THANK YOU. Salams

Fardad | 8 years ago | Reply @Pakistani citizen: So well said. Only suggestion is to replace the word 'behind the skirt' with 'under the skirt' Democracy is going from bad to worse with every succeeding elections.Needs to be done away with and replaced with some other practlcal system e.g 'Meritocracy'

Aschraful Makhlooq | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistani the most worst ever and corrupt political atmosphere is never suitable for democracy because corruption is at its best and on its peak in democracy and article 248 is much the best option our corrupt leaders have to secure themselves from any prosecution and some of our corrupt leaders strongly believe that democracy is much the best form of revenge......

Zaka | 8 years ago | Reply Since 2008 democracy has not delivered anything to common man. It has only benefitted the civilian elite. People are dying, people are hungry, people are jobless, funds are being lost to corruption, infrastructure is in shambles, civil institution are working as bribery collection points ... Civilian political leadership has only surfaced as utterly incompetent, unsympathetic, corrupt to the core, impotent to deal with challenges and fraught with conflicts of interest. Their bags should be packed and they be put behind bars

Pakistani citizen | 8 years ago | Reply Senate proceedings: Democracy suits the country, says Rabbani NO,it suits you and likes of you. You people have made a joke a cruel joke of democracy and politics. All criminals are hiding behind the skirts of this Democracy including this man's leader.

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