Muhammad Farouk

Grasp maximum powers to tighten the hold on authority for indefinite period as well as dream to plan for next generation by prolongation without any care for people and parliament was the simplest tradition of political history of Pakistan and heartfelt desire of each head of the state or head of government.

Our country observed the worst humiliation of constitution and laws by military and civilian leaders with entire focus on consolidation of grip on government. It has become the political tradition to clinch maximum control to strengthen personality rule as nation was cheated with the charisma of figures sidelining each and every ethics, in an obvious result politics lost decency among people and was considered an immoral game without any legitimised principles.

It is the best elegancy of democracy that parliament stand supreme, while practices were against the norms in country. In recent history, it was believed that house was on the toe of a uniformed president, but parliament proved its supremacy on particular day when an uniformed president could not dare to face house but he showed his favourite jig by raising his fists to overcome the internal feelings of humiliation in a house which was considered a rubber stamp before his monocracy. During the previous regime, it was visible domination of parliament that in spite of five years long dictatorship, full backing for term completion and strong authority to change premier as per desire, a uniformed general could not dare to face house after failure of his first and last effort. It is reality of political history that despite the constitutional requirement, the head of the state during last regime only once addressed the joint sitting of the parliament. In presence of all hurdles, parliament knows to recognise its due position in system. It is not regrettable but endorses the supremacy of house that either blamed to be a rubber stamp or debate club under a uniformed president, but knows to get recognition its ascendancy by discouraging a dictator to address.

Democracy means power of the house of elected representatives to rule the country. It is the only real platform that extends and surrenders the authority. In the inaugural address to joint session, the nation observed the execution of repeated pledges to restore the honour of parliament and Constitution when President Asif Ali Zardari urged to form an all parties committee to remove distortions in the Constitution and ‘revisit’ the 17th Amendment and Article 58(2)(b). “It is the responsibility of the elected representatives to remove these distortions in the Constitution made by the successive dictators to prolong their rule. In less than two weeks after being elected as president, it shows that the coalition holds the parliament in the highest esteem.” He made it clear that the president and the government must always seek guidance from the parliament in carrying out their duties.

It is a hopeful omen that top political leadership is step ahead for effective role of parliament. Time has come for practical implementation of promises and claims. In past powers of president established a parallel system of supervision with own parameters to take decision about fate of political institutions. Governments faced toughest circumstances from presidency in even day to day affairs as presidents chose to become the role of hope for entire opposition forces to snub the strength of parliament through amendments in which parliament had no working with presidency held entire powers of the system. Presidency became centre of political activities for new formations and manoeuvring. In simplest words, parliaments remained intact until presidency wished to keep. It is the curse of inappropriate muscles which holds presidency above parliament. The undue authorities extended to president are also against the sprite of democracy.

The president is ready to surrender his unconstitutional weight before elected representatives. Now liability has shifted to parliament and its members to devise a mechanism to debate a viable charter of constitution removing all the biasness and complexities of past. With new transition of powers to surrender before house, the duty of parliamentarians has increased manifold as their role is always a vibrant hope for countrymen with optimism to hold meaningful and constructive debates on issues for viable and exciting solutions. Parliament is a process of evolution with participation of all factions of society. Role of elected houses and parliamentary committees determine the fate of nation. Parliament is symbol of nation where members have duty to protect national interests against issues to frame the future in good shape. Nation can face embracement with weak parliament if fail to handle complications timely as it is observed in past. Power of parliament exists in performance of the duty to safeguard national integrity and development of a system for government to deliver results to nation. If there is no output in minimising the curbs of the nation, it may lead to failure, Nation can crash with weakness of parliament but it always has tendency and potential to counter each constitutional, legal, social or foreign policy challenge with progressive and pragmatic solutions. Parliamentary role is strong enough to confront every dispute to protect nation and national integrity. Parliament is so influential stage that it can take on board all political, non political, democratic and non democratic forces for vital resolutions of conflicts. It is duty of house and committees to take into confidence all the factions of a conflict before any verdict.

Parliament is the most powerful institution of the state as president and government all are answerable to it. Now time has come to set new traditions to strengthen the role of both houses and parliamentary committees for constitutional amendments and legislation to uphold rule of law through assurance of dignity of human rights. Democratic practices only can hold roots when parliamentarians will fulfil due obligation to nation. No one is above the parliament as it is only institution that can protect national cause with full vigour; it should stand supreme and powerful for accountability of government to run in right direction. This belief should emerge among politicians that only functional parliament can provide national stability to protect national security. The president has performed his constitutional requirement, now with mutual consent of all political forces, the parliament should extend a plan of action and time-frame to remove undemocratic clauses from the Constitution and legislation for effective governance in country. Power is before parliament, it is the prime obligation of both houses to perform their functions by obliging the power of mandate to inspire people of Pakistan.

The writer is a research analyst at Intermedia, Islamabad

http://thepost.com.pk/Previuos.aspx?dtlid=184930&src=Muhammad%20Farouk&date=26/09/2008