11 April 2004	Sunday	20 Safar 1425

KARACHI, April 10: The National Security Council poses a serious threat to democratic institutions and the Act under which the NSC has been formed is a contravention of the supremacy of parliament.

This was observed by most of the speakers at a seminar organized by the political cell of the Jamaat-i-Islami's women wing at Idara Noor-i-Haq here on Saturday. The topic was: The National Security Council Act - its implications and reservation.

Ms Attia Nisar, chief of the Sindh Women Commission, pointed out that creating an institution parallel to parliament tantamount to usurping rights of masses.

She said supremacy of parliament was a settled issue under the 1973 Constitution, but the new Act had given the domain of policy matters - sovereignty, solidarity, defence, and internal/external affairs of the country - under the NSC. Its adoption with a simple majority, instead of two-third votes, has impaired the parliament's prestige.

Ms Nighat A. Ahad observed that by allowing the armed forces to involve themselves in political matters, the government had provided the military leadership a permanent role in the country's affairs. She further pointed out that by accepting the army chief, instead of prime minister, as the head of the NSC, and the four services chiefs as its members, the government had rendered democratic institutions and elected representatives insignificant.

She regretted that the government had strengthened the 'military dictatorship' by rejecting the amendments, proposed by the opposition parties, to the Act.

She stressed the need for launching a joint struggle by all political parties and other democratic forces to stop the rulers from taking undemocratic steps.

Ms Darakhshan Farheen was of the view that the Act would have far-reaching effects and was bound to weaken the federal parliamentary system further. She remarked that democracy could not flourish under the shadow of the military force.

She said that the civil and military bureaucracy had effected amendments to the Constitution and also suspended its certain parts only to prolong their rule.

Ms Robina Qamar of the Women Aid Trust said the Act must be opposed with one voice on the floor of the parliament, as well as outside it, to mobilize public opinion as, she said, a peaceful change was possible only through political pressure.

Ms Samina Shaukat of the Working Women Organization said although the strength of women representatives in the democratic institutions had swollen, the problems of working women remained unsolved. No serious efforts were being made to resolve the problems, she regretted.