Parliament helpless before state: Rabbani

Says Musharraf issuing dictations from abroad

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani Wednesday said that parliament is helpless before the state and former President Pervez Musharraf is issuing dictates from abroad. 

He said parliament has to be transparent and responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people to create a sense of ownership among masses and remove 'misperceptions' prevailing in the society that parliament has lost its significance and it being termed as a debating society having no worth.

Chairman Senate expressed these views in an interaction with senior office-bearers and members of the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) at the Parliament House.

Rabbani said that a particular mindset was ridiculing the role and importance of parliament and the younger generation was becoming apolitical as the connect between the people and parliament was weak and feeble. 

He, however, pointed out that the Senate of Pakistan,   with a view to restore majesty of the Parliament, took a number of initiatives which helped in improving connect with the public.

While replying to various queries, Rabbani said that the Senate, since its inception has called for strong federation and a more powerful Upper House to represent the federating units in an efficient way. He said that three resolutions have so far been passed calling for increasing the powers of the Senate to enhance its Constitutional role and to make it a true representative of the federating units at federal level.

Regarding 18th Constitutional Amendment, Rabbani said that a centric mindset was opposing the amendment and even resistance was faced during the implementation commission proceedings on the issue of transfer of certain ministries and divisions to the provinces especially the health and education departments. 

He observed that the political forces of the country need to unite to take the political and democratic process forward. He also underscored the need for early announcement of wage board award. However, he said that the successive government remained helpless in front of the newspapers owners and unfortunately the wage board could not be implemented properly so far.

Rabbani termed the Article 6 of the Constitution redundant due to the fact that Musharraf, the dictator avoided to appear before the court and left the country. Rabbani said that all are equal before the law and nobody is above the law. He further remarked that continuity of the system is direly needed. “Civilian transfer of powers from one civilian government to the other would contribute towards strengthening of the democratic system”, Rabbani remarked.