E-Paper | May 14, 2026

Raza Rabbani in tears: 'Ashamed to vote against conscience'

Dawn.com Published January 6, 2015
comments
Whatsapp Channel
Add Dawn as a trusted source
Google Preferred Source

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Raza Rabbani was in tears on Tuesday after voting in the upper house on the 21st Constitutional Amendment for setting up military courts in the country.

Rabbani said that he voted on the amendment against his own conscience, adding that he had never felt more ashamed in his life.

“I have been in the Senate for more than 12 years, but have never been as ashamed as I am today and I cast my vote against my conscience,” said the PPP leader.

The senator said the vote that he had cast in support of the amendment was on the PPP's behalf.

Read also: PPP lawmakers unhappy over leadership’s decision on military courts

Rabbani had recently said that parliament has had the honour of not validating illegal acts of military dictators in the past, but was now “taking its last breath”.

He has been of the view that after the passage of the 21st Amendment bill, the constitution would no more remain “pure”.

Rabbani has been among the more prominent PPP leaders who have criticised the party's decision to support the establishment of military courts.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.
Pakistan

Read more

Sahil
Jan 06, 2015 07:27pm
really! first time voted
Recommend 0
Azhar Hussain
Jan 06, 2015 07:28pm
This is the funniest thing I ever heard. If you had conscience, Mr. Rabbani your interior Sindh if not whole of Pakistan would have been paradise by now.
Recommend 0
Goga Nalaik
Jan 06, 2015 07:29pm
Rabbani sahab, people with such level of conviction resign from their office. Did you???
Recommend 0
imran bhatti
Jan 06, 2015 07:29pm
does he really has conscience?
Recommend 0
nehans
Jan 06, 2015 07:29pm
Rabbani Sb first time you did something for the country though it was against your conscience
Recommend 0
Bratva
Jan 06, 2015 07:30pm
Mr.Rabbani where was your conscious when the inaction of PPP government in reforming judicial process has led to release of terrorists?
Recommend 0
Riazullah Baig
Jan 06, 2015 07:31pm
If you are really a man of some character, resign from both senate and your party as it is no more a political party but a fiefdom. Just shouting stuff like this will not make any impressions in the days to come.
Recommend 0
I. Ahmed
Jan 06, 2015 07:31pm
Conscience? Really!
Recommend 0
Lucky Star
Jan 06, 2015 07:32pm
Why this is a news anyway?
Recommend 0
Shafiq
Jan 06, 2015 07:32pm
You got to be ashamed of your action. You were there to use your best judgement and have been paid well. This was the real test and you flunked . You do not deserve to be there. Get out if you have any honour left. There are others who did the same but because they are so enslaved they don't speak. What kind of people are you?
Recommend 0
Anarchist
Jan 06, 2015 07:32pm
Why would you vote against your conscience? You and Aitzaz give long speeches on democracy, constitution etc and then always toe party line or what Zardari says. Never once I have seen either of these gentlemen question party leadership over principles that they seem to stand for. This is double game and pure topi drama for public consumption. After all Fazal and JUI did not vote albeit for their own reasons. At least they had the guts not to vote against their 'conscience'.
Recommend 0
Adnan Anwar
Jan 06, 2015 07:32pm
Pakistani politicians and Judiciary deserves military courts.
Recommend 0
AXH
Jan 06, 2015 07:34pm
I didn't know you had a conscience because if you did, you would not have supported Zardari as your leader and the President for five years.
Recommend 0
Usman
Jan 06, 2015 07:35pm
hahaha what a hypocrite ...
Recommend 0
Aqbal
Jan 06, 2015 07:35pm
Good man.
Recommend 0
Ali
Jan 06, 2015 07:38pm
Sorry Mr.Rabbani..your Parliament and ideology of justice is dysfunctional. Thousands have died and there is no justice for them.Army tested your so called democracy for 8 years now. You have failed to deliver a bit and plunged the country into darkness. Its the army's turn now. Your tears are proofs your personal attachment to your past. Not the current reality.
Recommend 0
Hope
Jan 06, 2015 07:39pm
Its called Hypocrisy sir.
Recommend 0
muhammad
Jan 06, 2015 07:40pm
He is the main architect of 18th Amendment in Constitution, which literally destroyed the very foundation of Pakistan federal structure
Recommend 0
ali
Jan 06, 2015 07:40pm
"He voted against his conscience" I am really surprised that these guys have any such thing like that.All our politicians are indeed sub standard material by all scales of judgement.
Recommend 0
Kamran Khan
Jan 06, 2015 07:41pm
Why didn't he resigned .......haa
Recommend 0
GKBaloch
Jan 06, 2015 07:41pm
Mr. Rabbani , do n't let it bother you. Just look back and for a moment ask yourself , " How could I go along with AAZardari when he nominated then 19 years old son Bilawal as chairman of PPP ? "
Recommend 0
Ubedullah
Jan 06, 2015 07:43pm
shame on you. One one expecting people like you vote for it. If everything is going to mange by Army then what is need of parliament and democracy. You all are paid politician.
Recommend 0
mubashar
Jan 06, 2015 07:44pm
U shud hav had the moral courage to resign.....if u had conscience
Recommend 0
Adnan Anjum
Jan 06, 2015 07:45pm
Well Mr. Senator! You had the option to vote against the amendment.
Recommend 0
Mohammad Akhtar
Jan 06, 2015 07:45pm
Shut up and be quiet now, you already voted and now telling stories.
Recommend 0
responsible
Jan 06, 2015 07:46pm
Champions of democracy. Trying to fool people by crying and having crocodile tears.
Recommend 0
syed wasim haider
Jan 06, 2015 07:47pm
I appreciate your feelings but it was the fault of your last government and this present one who performed below average on every front. They were never serious in solving this issue until the recent Peshawar carnage. Anything is on the canvas in future and perhaps u have visualised it,
Recommend 0
Loimashar
Jan 06, 2015 07:47pm
Are you ashamed of yourself. If yes than why did you vote against your conscience. Now that you have already voted, you are trying to rebuild your image of a ,'man of privciple', which you are not. You are in a confused state of mind, and that is what you are expecting from an ordinary voter on the street.
Recommend 0
Zero-Conscience
Jan 06, 2015 07:48pm
So he sold his conciousness for the party? Zero Respect for you Mr.Rabbani, a man who sells his principles for any reasons is no man.
Recommend 0
Abbas Ali
Jan 06, 2015 07:50pm
I am surprised at his statement. Is his conscience still alive after defending PPP government's action in Thar?
Recommend 0
pagrri Sanbhaal
Jan 06, 2015 07:50pm
Conscience? rare commodity in politicians.
Recommend 0
Mian Kashif Mumtaz
Jan 06, 2015 07:52pm
Peoples party and conscience ?
Recommend 0
hamza khan
Jan 06, 2015 07:53pm
i would argue from a PPP standpoint, this might have been the most pro-pakistan thing he has done in his 12 years. being associated with a feudal backwards party should have been weighing on his conscience from day 1.
Recommend 0
zohaib
Jan 06, 2015 07:54pm
He should be ashamed of feeling ashamed at voting for pakistan's best interest
Recommend 0
Ali Gohar
Jan 06, 2015 07:56pm
Not a big deal. The entire PPP has been acting against the collective conscience of its vote bank.
Recommend 0
SK
Jan 06, 2015 07:58pm
'Crocodile tears' OR 'Hedging your bets both ways' - wonder which describes this 'politicians' statement. If indeed there was such a thing as conscience - then there was nothing preventing him from crossing the party line. If the conscience surfaced after the having voted - then, instead of the dramatic press statement, he should simply resign from politics. Otherwise, this 'leader of democarcy', should save his theatrics - not many are in the mood for comedy from a 'joker'. He is not saving his face by such stupid utterances, but only further ridiculing himself.
Recommend 0
Imran A.
Jan 06, 2015 07:58pm
sorry but you don't show self respect when you made this statement. Actions speak louder than words, either sign or resign, but don't tell us you sorry story, we have absolutely zero mercy for politicians.
Recommend 0
Anand
Jan 06, 2015 08:02pm
There was an option for you Mr. Rabbani. By not participating. This is a perfect depiction of crocodile's tears
Recommend 0
nasiroski
Jan 06, 2015 08:04pm
Mr Rabbani if you had any conscience you would have reigned before you voted against it. If you just discovered your conscience may be it is not a bad idea to resign now.
Recommend 0
Abbas
Jan 06, 2015 08:04pm
If you didnt agree the honorable thing would have been to resign and not cry!
Recommend 0
Ehsan
Jan 06, 2015 08:07pm
Crocodile tears, if you would love democracy so much, RESIGN, right away, No shame at all, Impotant politicians, just good at plundering the country....
Recommend 0
Shahid
Jan 06, 2015 08:09pm
respect
Recommend 0
Majid Sheikh
Jan 06, 2015 08:11pm
Mr. Raza Rabbani, I understand your sentiment. Surely military courts under civil law, like in Ireland, was a more honourable way out.
Recommend 0
Munir
Jan 06, 2015 08:11pm
No tears or any shade of shame for kids dying in Thar on daily basis under your government?
Recommend 0
Habibullah Khimany
Jan 06, 2015 08:17pm
Where was your conscience when your leaders plundered millions of dollars? Actually Pakistan is changing and you are afraid that you may be accountable, that is what the tears are for.
Recommend 0
Ashraf Choudhry
Jan 06, 2015 08:18pm
What you sow so shall you reap. No use crying over spilt milk.
Recommend 0
Mohsin
Jan 06, 2015 08:20pm
Are you kidding me? If your conscience was so strong, you would have taken a stand against the party and denied to cast your vote. Better yet, you should have resigned from a party that makes you vote against your "conscience"!
Recommend 0
AlFatmi
Jan 06, 2015 08:21pm
Mr Rabbani, if you truly believe in democracy & man of such conscience , why didn't you resign today. For a change listen to the voice of your conscience rather then your leader.
Recommend 0
Husain Akhtar
Jan 06, 2015 08:31pm
Don’t know how the party Whip works in the Pakistan parliamentary system, but in the established democratic systems like in the UK, we have many examples of defying the Whip and boldly facing consequences where one feels so strongly as Raza Rabbani publicises after the event! London
Recommend 0
muhammad
Jan 06, 2015 08:32pm
He is ashamed of voting for a bill which is need of Pakistani people and for Pakistan ! he is not all ashamed for representing the most corrupt feudal party in Pakistan
Recommend 0
tinker bell
Jan 06, 2015 08:33pm
If thats the case he should have resigned. All of you have no problem suppressing the voice of conscience. We all no that. No more crocodile tears
Recommend 0
dawar a khan
Jan 06, 2015 08:36pm
Raza Rabbani is being disingenuous. showing grief after casting his vote in favor of the Amendment in Pakistan reeks of double standard.. Gutsy guys will take a firm stand and vote according to their conscious. He could have opposed or abstained from voting.
Recommend 0
jg
Jan 06, 2015 08:41pm
Not ashamed at how your party ignored deaths of 50000 pakistanis and gave leverage to terrorists by declaring moratorium in death penalty
Recommend 0
sid
Jan 06, 2015 08:41pm
These people are pathetic! Their so called democratic rights (key to corruption in reality) is more important then the country itself.
Recommend 0
Rubya
Jan 06, 2015 08:42pm
Hope we shed tears in the same manner when innocent died in Peshawar school.
Recommend 0
shezad
Jan 06, 2015 08:48pm
What does he mean by "pure" constitution? Every constitution undergoes heavy amendments.
Recommend 0
ilyas
Jan 06, 2015 08:49pm
Better go home
Recommend 0
ConscienceSeller
Jan 06, 2015 08:50pm
What is he trying to say here??....for PPP he would sell his conscience?
Recommend 0
Pahore Muhammad
Jan 06, 2015 08:56pm
Raza Rabani was the man of honor in PPP.
Recommend 0
Waseem
Jan 06, 2015 09:08pm
he and his party have given nothing to Pakistan except corruption and looting. so, please stop this drama.
Recommend 0
Tabinda
Jan 06, 2015 09:10pm
Why didn't he resign?
Recommend 0
Fappy
Jan 06, 2015 09:20pm
Why not resign in shame?
Recommend 0
Shazaib
Jan 06, 2015 09:20pm
Should have performed to make systems better. Politicians still have time to work better and not just make money.
Recommend 0
khan
Jan 06, 2015 09:28pm
Hypocrite , commits the crime yet wants to be a hero, what a country , what shameless so called leaders ,
Recommend 0
Fakhir
Jan 06, 2015 09:28pm
Please resign don't vote against will
Recommend 0
khan
Jan 06, 2015 09:28pm
Would be better to resign and smile than vote and then cry
Recommend 0
Wajid Khan
Jan 06, 2015 09:31pm
Hypocrisy at its best. Corruption is rampant everywhere in Pakistan. No Voice. No shame. No health care for masses. No shame No Education for Kids. No shame No Justice for masses. No Shame. Ashamed because he voted for courts which definitely gonna be better than the civil courts. Have you ever tried to fix the Justice System of Pakistan Mr. Rabbani?
Recommend 0
hassan
Jan 06, 2015 09:32pm
So the vote is not valid and conscience at time of NRO? I wish Rabanni reads these comments on Dawn to get some fearful tears
Recommend 0
ashok kumar lal
Jan 06, 2015 09:51pm
Conscience is fine, but money and perks come from being in office.
Recommend 0
Merchant
Jan 06, 2015 10:00pm
Not conscious but crocodile tears!!
Recommend 0
Naik Muhammad Sajid
Jan 06, 2015 10:04pm
Mr.Rabbani you are really a great man.you did a lot of work for democracy,freedom and for the powerful parliament.I salute you.
Recommend 0
Imran
Jan 06, 2015 10:06pm
Why did u vote then. Or may be he cried on failed politicians
Recommend 0
Range Rover
Jan 06, 2015 10:07pm
What a wonderful politician Reza Rabbani is, he is indeed an asset for Pakistan and PPP. PPP has helped PMLN govt in making consensus for this amendment, whether you like it or not, PPP is the only party which unites Pakistan and can bring all the political parties to consensus. No one in PPP like this amendment, but they have voted for it because we have had enough of being labeled as Traitors and bla bla from Ghairat Brigade. I am proud of my Party and its sacrifices for democracy. Long Live Pakistan, Long Live PPP!
Recommend 0
Hussain
Jan 06, 2015 10:10pm
Topi Drama!!! These politicians have no shame what so ever
Recommend 0
umer salahuddin
Jan 06, 2015 10:19pm
Where was your conscious when PPP was in power for 5 years and corruption was at its peak and Pakistan was run from the presidency. Now an action is being taken against terrorism you are talking about conscious.
Recommend 0
zafar
Jan 06, 2015 10:20pm
A more honorable position would have been to have reigned,. These look like crocodile ears.
Recommend 0
Ahmad
Jan 06, 2015 10:24pm
Mr. Rabbani, was the constitution pure after 18th, 19th and 20th ammendments to accomodate NRO and other measures that were used to safeguard lootings and nepotism. Democracy was given more than enough time to prove its worth. Let the time take its course now.
Recommend 0
KUKhan
Jan 06, 2015 10:24pm
The amendments are the first in the list of many more to come, due to incompetence of people like Rabbani and politics in Pakistan. Mr. Rabbani should cry on the plight of common citizens who face hardship and die a meaningless death due to a system that ensures inequality, injustice and cruelty on daily basis.
Recommend 0
Akber
Jan 06, 2015 10:39pm
@Ali Very well said sir.
Recommend 0
Khan-Haqiqi
Jan 06, 2015 10:41pm
He is not in tears on poor performance of Political government of PPP and PML-N ? Who stopped these government to improve Judicial system, reduce corruption, good governance, conduct local body election and empower people at lower level. These are called crocodile tears.
Recommend 0
Azam Jamil
Jan 06, 2015 10:50pm
This is SO typical. Cover your bets both ways.
Recommend 0
Kadir khan
Jan 06, 2015 10:53pm
Raza Rabanni, Aitezaz Ahsan and Amin Fahim you are PPP not Rehman Malik and Asif Zardari.
Recommend 0
Ganga Din
Jan 06, 2015 10:56pm
If you had to vote against your conscience, you should have resigned. This is the problem with Pakistan. You can't have it both ways.
Recommend 0
sara mehmood
Jan 06, 2015 10:56pm
how many tears he shed on the deaths of innocent children in thar who starved to death just bcz of his party's gov neglect.
Recommend 0
Peshawari Pakhtun
Jan 06, 2015 10:59pm
"against my conscience"--Mr. Rabbani actually means: "against my interest". If Mr. Rabbani is truly a man of conscience or a man of principle, he would part ways with his party.
Recommend 0
arifkasam
Jan 06, 2015 11:05pm
If you had conscience you should have left PPP 4 years ago, and would not have supported the plundering of Pakistan by Zardari
Recommend 0
Sonofthesoil
Jan 06, 2015 11:07pm
Mr. Rabbani and other politicians and lawyers should be much more ashamed of not having done anything when they should have.
Recommend 0
Qamar
Jan 06, 2015 11:41pm
Drama.
Recommend 0
ALI
Jan 06, 2015 11:43pm
Mr.Rabbani is good jayala of PPP. i appreciate with you. but now this is your good decision.
Recommend 0
syed
Jan 07, 2015 12:04am
They have conscious ?!?!?
Recommend 0
Arshad
Jan 07, 2015 12:17am
@ Peshawari Pakhtun Excellent comment. I didn't believe when came to know that Mr. Rabbani's father was assistant of our great leader Quaid-i-Azam. This is what he learnt from his father to side with Crooks and name it as golden principles. I feel ditched by these leaders and it appears they have genetically gone corrupt.
Recommend 0
Toordada
Jan 07, 2015 12:17am
Did zardari put a gun to your head or Raheel twisted your arm? in any event why don't you resign as a protest.
Recommend 0
concerned
Jan 07, 2015 12:22am
topi drama. if he had a conscience he wouldn't be working under Zardari
Recommend 0
Fiz
Jan 07, 2015 12:36am
And we are in tears on what kind of politicians we have!
Recommend 0
Farooq
Jan 07, 2015 12:45am
Where was his conscience when his party was ripping Pakistan apart for so many years ????
Recommend 0
abp
Jan 07, 2015 12:56am
Raza has lost my respect. He should have resigned and could have become a hero for many like me.
Recommend 0
javed qamer
Jan 07, 2015 01:09am
what a hypocrat this guy is. He belongs to PPP which is the most corrupt party in the history of Pakistan. He should have resigned. but he likes the cushy job and perks he gets.
Recommend 0
E Star
Jan 07, 2015 01:28am
Ever politician has done or said something against their conscious which went in favour to this country. If they all started working against their conscious Pakistan would be one great country one day.
Recommend 0
MAlvi
Jan 07, 2015 01:28am
The first proof of your lack of conscience is that you are with Zardari and his son. You are a hypocrite. PPP is not a democratic party. If you had conscience, you would not have accepted that kid, Bilawal, as your party chairman. This goes for all PPP politicians, including Aitzaz, Babar Awan, Fahim, etc.
Recommend 0
Kanwarch
Jan 07, 2015 01:33am
I do not buy this argument from this politician. If he feels so strongly about this issue then he should have resigned from senate and his party rather than casting his vote. Furthermore I have never seen any tears in his eyes when he is working under a corrupt leader (Zardari) and seeing how his corrupt colleagues are looting and plundering his motherland in front of his eyes. I have lost all respect for these so called intellectuals like him
Recommend 0
mango aadmi
Jan 07, 2015 01:34am
magarmach Kay ansu
Recommend 0
Key Points
Jan 07, 2015 01:45am
Oh, please. Gimme a break.
Recommend 0
Danish
Jan 07, 2015 01:45am
Destroyer of higher education. shame on you. What a Hippocrate. Instead crying, you must have resigned. Leadership doesn't need crying.
Recommend 0
Sailay
Jan 07, 2015 01:48am
Crocodile tears.
Recommend 0
Dr Gul Metlo
Jan 07, 2015 01:49am
Why Raza Rabani did not exercise the right to remain absent, as some PPP legislators did in 1973 at the time of passing of 1973 constitution.
Recommend 0
Danish
Jan 07, 2015 01:52am
If not before, but after reading comments from whole Pakistan here Mr. Rabbani you should resign.
Recommend 0
Rao M Khan
Jan 07, 2015 01:54am
Being a student of law I could never stand with this kind of amendment. I have been following Mr Rabbani since long and really respect him for his firm and bold stands, his approach towards due process of law and raising his voice for Human Rights. I can understand his feelings whilst his voting in favour of the amendments. Sometimes we have to sacrifice even our ideology. Let's hope that the amendments shall help our nation get the desired results.
Recommend 0
Dr Gul Metlo
Jan 07, 2015 01:54am
@muhammad 18 th amendment has in fact provided the solid foundations to save Pakistan from disintegration. Rabani was the main architect of it. His name would go a long way in history for this. After 1973 constitution 18 amendment was the biggest achievement in the history of constitutionalism in Pakistan.
Recommend 0
mohammad
Jan 07, 2015 02:03am
You support zardari, i dont need to explain further.
Recommend 0
JD
Jan 07, 2015 02:28am
Crocodile Tears...Save it for Zardari.
Recommend 0
CONCERNED HUMAN
Jan 07, 2015 02:33am
This guy actually have conscience, all i can say is WOW
Recommend 0
Abdul Malik
Jan 07, 2015 02:36am
@Azhar Hussain I agree 100%. These so called democracy lovers have no conscience nor character.
Recommend 0
Abdul Malik
Jan 07, 2015 02:40am
Mr. Rabbani you make me laugh ! stop these crocodile tears. You are not impressing anyone. Go home, retire and enjoy the rest of your life. You have already played havoc with our beautiful Province of Sindh and the entire Pakistan. We do not need politicians like you or your good for nothing characterless so called leader Zardari.
Recommend 0
Pragmatist
Jan 07, 2015 02:53am
Our guys have numerous times voted against their so called conscience. They have none of it. However, this vote was needed and no one should shed his tears.
Recommend 0
Kanwarch
Jan 07, 2015 02:54am
@MAlvi I agree all these are as corrupt and moraly bankrupt as their leader Zardari
Recommend 0
jk
Jan 07, 2015 02:56am
Should have been a comedian in the movies.
Recommend 0
mian
Jan 07, 2015 03:00am
Why don't you follow your conscientiousness when it comes to obey the most corrupt person in history of our nation called Zardari?You don't feel guilty when you support or keep quite on corruption?Please stop this drama and just resign from your post instead of projecting yourself as something vital for democracy. We are sick and tired of this old generation politicians who have given nothing to our nation and still they are clueless to national issues.
Recommend 0
Shahid
Jan 07, 2015 03:01am
Wrong Number
Recommend 0
Akif
Jan 07, 2015 04:13am
iss sadgi pe kon na mar jaye ae Khuda
Recommend 0
W. Shaikh
Jan 07, 2015 04:17am
@Goga Nalaik Well said.
Recommend 0
Ali
Jan 07, 2015 04:18am
No need to cry and shed crocodile tears instead You should have RESIGNED
Recommend 0
Muhammad
Jan 07, 2015 04:48am
I am just speechless. What a profound statement!
Recommend 0
Saeeds
Jan 07, 2015 05:18am
I respect your point view. PPP is fighting a valour way for democracy where majority still have no clue about democracy. PPP is the only wall against ISIS . Otherwise people of Pakistan love iSIS like sharia or dictator like N Korean.
Recommend 0
Muzaffar Oklahoma
Jan 07, 2015 05:23am
Then u should have voted according to ur conscience .
Recommend 0
Ali
Jan 07, 2015 05:33am
What a hypocrite. Where is his conscious when hundreds of children are dying ins Sindh and he represents Sindh in senate? Where are his democratic principles when he supports a non democratic way of making a 25 year old as party chairmen without elections in party without any service record. Where is his conscious when his party loot millions from poor people and he claps to make his Zardari happy. This guy does not fear God and thinks he can fool everyone all the time just to get some money. Shame on you
Recommend 0
Hugh Slaman
Jan 07, 2015 05:56am
Where was your conscience when the Election Commission was appointed in violation of the Constitution? Do you only care about the Constitution when it is used to block something beneficial?
Recommend 0
Ahmed
Jan 07, 2015 06:17am
I'm ashamed to see our leaders value a piece of paper more than our very lives . I would love to see Mr.Raza Rabbani showing the same amount of passion for the children of Thar . For God sake man you have to be alive first before exercising your rights.
Recommend 0
Jasim
Jan 07, 2015 06:30am
He supported the biggest most infamous Conman as a leader of his party and nothing happened to his conscious and now he discovered he has one!
Recommend 0
Imran Khan
Jan 07, 2015 07:13am
Mind is blown! If he was so against this, he should have voted against this and resigned. At least then he would be at peace with his so called "conscience"
Recommend 0
Ahmed
Jan 07, 2015 07:19am
Stop being hard on the man...as people say on the FB relationship is complicated. Raza Rabbani is a man of integrity and of modest mean ...but he has not tried to enrich himself...In our culture things are easier said then done...at least he has the guts ti come out say what he felt. No one else dared say a word except Moulana Fazal.
Recommend 0
A. Khan
Jan 07, 2015 07:50am
After the APS massacre, public wanted retribution against the terrorists. In order to do that, a civilian government instead of trying to fix the legal system, stooped to institutionalize military courts through an act of parliament. If PPP had opposed it, public would have said that they supported the terrorists. Damned if you do and damned if you don't. Now they have brought into play the very courts that have been PPP's bane for decades. I certainly hope that the terms of reference for these courts are clearly defined and there is a time limit up to which they can function. Otherwise we had anti-terrorist courts for so many years. As long as the legal system remains corrupt, all such solutions are mere band aids to gaping wounds.
Recommend 0
Azam
Jan 07, 2015 08:09am
What a joke.
Recommend 0
Saleem
Jan 07, 2015 08:13am
What utter notice. Under Zardari and Nawaz we have become a lawless, corrupt society. We have the most corrupt person in our history "Zardari" and now Nawaz will equal him. So stop those "mugermuch" tears - in fact you SHOULD RESIGN. Then when the only loyal source the ARMY wants to do the correct thing, then its suddenly " we are losing democracy". When did we have democracy? WIth Zardari preparing his son Bilwal and Nawaz preparing his and already with his brother as CM, do you call this democracy. Its laughable...
Recommend 0
Umar
Jan 07, 2015 08:23am
Military courts are not and never will be a part of the solution ...
Recommend 0
Hasnain
Jan 07, 2015 08:30am
@Bratva what had they done to clean country of terrorists during their five year rule.except corruption ,corruption and corruption.
Recommend 0
Mohammad
Jan 07, 2015 08:33am
He had no tears for children perished in Thar or the kids in Peshawar but to save democracy, what democracy? one that saved their skins? They were in government for five years and what do they have to show for it. More misery, poverty, load shedding, economic demise of the country, nation riddled with acts terror and total silence on all fronts. Indifference to the plight of common man. Our nation will never learn but continue to support the so called champions of democracy . Please before commenting on the virtues of democracy (in our part of he world in particular) think twice and stop defending these villains.
Recommend 0
Hasnain
Jan 07, 2015 08:37am
@muhammad Very true .He was the one who created present election commission ,which is root cause of rigging 2012 election.Throughthis amendment both Zardari and Nawaz planned to stay in power forever.
Recommend 0
Hasnain
Jan 07, 2015 08:37am
@AXH very true.
Recommend 0
AbuAli
Jan 07, 2015 08:51am
Still you have choive to resign....go ahead pl....listen to your voice of concience.
Recommend 0
haider
Jan 07, 2015 09:15am
Means being ashamed is not new for him but this time it was more
Recommend 0
Abbas
Jan 07, 2015 09:20am
Looks like a joke, Pakistan is losing its kids and you are talking about the party policy. What about the policies for Pakistan, u n ur kids are eating produces and tax payers.
Recommend 0
Ishaq
Jan 07, 2015 09:21am
@Anarchist --- And PTI too didn't vote.
Recommend 0
Ishaq
Jan 07, 2015 09:21am
@Anarchist --- And PTI too didn't vote.
Recommend 0
Khalifa
Jan 07, 2015 09:41am
Most of the MNAs and Senators belonging to PPP are giving statements and appearances like Mr Rabbani. In his capacity as a politician, he is rated by many as slightly better than the rest of the lot that we have in what is left of the PPP. But I have few questions to ask from Mr Rabbani: 1. Is dynastic practices have any place in democracy? 2. When were the last elections held within the PPP at the ward, district and provincial level? 3. Who appoints members to the central executive committee of the party? and how? 4. Did you read Article 140 A of the constitution and the many judgements passed by the Supreme Court advising the provincial governments to conduct the local elections? Can we boast of having a democracy in a country where the ordinary are even disenfranchized from electing their municipal councillors to look after their streets, mohallas and neighbourhoods? Mr Rabbani, you cannot run with the hares and hunt with the hounds, all the time!
Recommend 0
Mian Amir Hakim
Jan 07, 2015 09:49am
Dear Mr. Rabbani. No doubt, your tears will be remembered for ever in the history of hypocrites. It is so easy to cry and so difficult to either abstain from being a part of the process you dislike or resig. The later being much difficult.
Recommend 0
Awan
Jan 07, 2015 09:54am
If you can sit in a meeting where a juvenile is dictating the policies...your conscience does not bother you, if there is deliberate delay in investigation in Bibi's murder you keep mum, there is no news of your tears on dying children in Thar...why make a spectacle now? People thought ilks of you and Aitzaz were intellectuals in the party...but how wrong have we been? Come on...stop shedding tears! If you were man enough you should've spoken to be heard on the floor of the Senate and come out...you would have been respected for rest of your life as a man of principles...but not by voting with your tears!
Recommend 0
Masood Raja
Jan 07, 2015 10:04am
Alas, he has never been in tears when his boss and his cronies were busy in looting and plundering Pakistan and its people.
Recommend 0
Zaraq
Jan 07, 2015 10:13am
Hypocrite , where was your conscience when you accepted Zardari as a leader ? where is your conscience when every day children die in Thar ? where was your conscience when your party looted billions in their recent tenure ? This bill was needed for Pakistan , you were ashamed on voting for Pakistan? you should be ashamed of yourself for bringing politics in this matter too , and then again since JUI and JI didnt vote , you could've not voted too . . but you had crocodile tears to shed :)
Recommend 0
Fans without Borders
Jan 07, 2015 10:26am
Crocodile tears. if you accept Zardari as your leader knowingly his reality you are cheating.
Recommend 0
Azam Khan
Jan 07, 2015 10:26am
These are crocodile tears Mr. Rabbani. Where were you when Pakistan's national wealth was being plundered by your party chief and his cronies for a full five years.
Recommend 0
Abdul Hameed
Jan 07, 2015 10:30am
Why Mr. Rabbani was not ashamed when PPP last government did rampant corruption? Why Mr. Rabbani was not ashamed when NRO was signed by his leaders? Why Mr. Rabbani was not ashamed when his last government failed to arrest the killers of Benazie Bhhtoo (Late)?
Recommend 0
Khalil Anwer Hassan
Jan 07, 2015 11:06am
Raza Rabbani has been bitten by the beast which he so diligently help creating in the shape of the 18th Amendment, giving all powers to the leader of a political party for throwing out any of its parliamentarians for not towing the party line. His words, in the Senate, as he broke down, were that he was using his vote, which he held as a trust on behalf of his Party, as desired by the PPPP leadership. For a person, whose late father Group Captain Atta Rabbani served as one of the ADCs to Quaid-e-Azam and accompanied the latter to Eidgah for his only Eid Prayer in Pakistan, Raza Rabbani's conscience should have awakened much earlier.
Recommend 0
Faisal Rana
Jan 07, 2015 11:07am
Raza Rabbani sahib - you are ashamed to vote against your conscience. Why don't you listen to your conscience and resign.
Recommend 0
Riaz
Jan 07, 2015 11:19am
Why vote against conscience?
Recommend 0
BringthemtoJustice!
Jan 07, 2015 11:31am
Oh paaleeze, cry me an river!!!! Someone please pass him a box of tissues. But who cares anyways? Did you hear the drying of Mothers and fathers who lost kids that darkest day in our history? Make sure you don't come to Peshawar, otherwise some one may make you shed some real tears, lots of them! We will bring those evil doers to justice, don't need your 'crocodile tears'.
Recommend 0
Rehman
Jan 07, 2015 11:33am
Well, the Nation is ashamed of you!!
Recommend 0
Ghalib
Jan 07, 2015 11:45am
Mr. Rabbani, Did you cry when Children were dying in Thar
Recommend 0
Ashamed
Jan 07, 2015 11:56am
What your party has done to Pakistan you should have resigned many years earlier
Recommend 0
Mujahid
Jan 07, 2015 11:57am
He is big Dramabaz. He still does not understand for being decades in governments that War like situation required war courts. He proclaiming that nation is at war but hypocritically not accepting as fear this come to corrupt leaders once finished terrorists.
Recommend 0
HASNAIN
Jan 07, 2015 12:15pm
@Goga Nalaik Correct and before voting !!
Recommend 0
Sharath Chandra
Jan 07, 2015 12:17pm
Moral disintegration of Pakistan is complete.
Recommend 0
Kanwarch
Jan 07, 2015 12:20pm
@Awan Totally agree with you. People like him and Aitizaz Ahsan are the worst offenders who are cleverly trying to portray themselves as some kind of honest intellectuals fighting for democracy in the country. Infact these two are the most corrupt and moraly bankrupt people in the party as they try to give an impression of honesty but still don't raise any voice over corruption done under their noses by people like Zardari. Gilani, Raja Power etc. they are happy to sit with them under leadership of Zardari and immature Bilawal but think they are protecting democracy. What a load of rubbish. Gone are the days when you can make people of Pakistan fool. Press should stop giving these jokers any serious mention as all the tears are for themselves, their inflated egos and their families
Recommend 0
Pakistani
Jan 07, 2015 12:23pm
@Adnan Anwar Well said Sir.
Recommend 0
Pakistani
Jan 07, 2015 12:25pm
@Ghalib Excellent point
Recommend 0
M.Kamran Khan
Jan 07, 2015 12:28pm
Look who is talking about conscience, Mr.Rabbani if you have even the Micro level conscience you would have not been working under zardari. Did you forget your role in the 18th Amendment paving way for the third time PMship for Nawaz Sharif. Did you forget your role in NRO, Please dont talk of conscience you all are shameless to the core of your hearts.
Recommend 0
mrhopsy
Jan 07, 2015 12:35pm
Sad, he didn't cry for Thar children.
Recommend 0
ijaz ahmad
Jan 07, 2015 12:36pm
Yes all the boys commentd right that hv u such traits in ur personalty,i thnk nt.if u thnk ths against the law,judicry,parliament and nation,thn y r u thr as a represntative of people.intrsts of ur party z nt highr than the nation's intrsts.what type of person u r.u sold ur conciens.
Recommend 0
sajid Mumtaz Khan
Jan 07, 2015 12:37pm
why be shamed & come with crocodile tears.......... if this is against your conscious then do not vote & resign from senate.
Recommend 0
Faisal
Jan 07, 2015 12:41pm
CROCODILE TEARS Mr Rabbani I could just wish that for once your conscious could have also cried for what you and your party are doing to this country, people of Sindh and to the people of Pakistan. Let me remind you if it has slipped your conscious ...that you will stand accountable to the Lord on the day of judgement....and with what you have been trusted with - in the face of given performance and support to your cronies!! I just shudder and a chill runs down my spine. how will you account yourself. May Allah saves us from such embarrassing position .
Recommend 0
SM ZAKI
Jan 07, 2015 12:41pm
Crocodile tears.
Recommend 0
Kamran
Jan 07, 2015 12:45pm
Crocodile tears. Should have the courage to resign. If he still feels the same he can even resign now.
Recommend 0
Asim
Jan 07, 2015 12:56pm
Mr. Rabbani, the nation would consider you a better person if your conscience had woken up on death of hundreds of hunger stricken kids in Sindh during PPP's government.
Recommend 0
Qamar
Jan 07, 2015 01:02pm
If this was the first time you did something against your 'conscience', then I assume your holy conscience was quite OK with being a part of Zardari's mafia that ruined this country!!
Recommend 0
Arshad
Jan 07, 2015 01:05pm
@Abdul Hameed Excellent Mr. Hameed. I think after reading so many comments he should resign from politics, in respect of his elders who had the pleasure of working with our great Quaid-i-Azam. If he thinks like his leader, we are not a nation of sheep which can be bullied under the garb of democracy which serves them only and not the masses.
Recommend 0
Arshad
Jan 07, 2015 01:12pm
@Azhar Hussain V. Good! In fact they are used to harness the efforts of others like they took 5 years to neutralize the effect of Musharraf's government, and very recently confirmed by Mr. Asif Zardari that "I am waiting for the pitch to be prepared by Imran Khan to play the final round to come to power", once again shows their instincts of doing only paper works and nothing on the ground. This is hallmark of PPP since its inception. Great ZA Bhutto also did great Paper Work for the people and destroyed institutions that would serve the masses. Likewise, his great "son_in_law" destroyed PIA, Railways, P. Steel Mills, and many other institutions. They take pride in illiteracy of their voters, but fail to admit that they the illiterate people can not rule forever in this country.
Recommend 0
Ahmad
Jan 07, 2015 01:13pm
If he is so ashamed, why did he vote !! and what conscience !!
Recommend 0
Haqparast
Jan 07, 2015 01:13pm
I appreciate Rabbani sb stance,This is only Politician who has courage to speak about anything which is against his will and also following party line, an example for other institutions like bureaucracy, military where people does not show their reservation when they are enjoying power but after retirement they at once wake up
Recommend 0
Mian Shahid Mehmood
Jan 07, 2015 02:09pm
Mr. Senator you are a worldy vice man. You preferred shames and blushes over perks and financial gain attached with your seat. In you the budding politicians and democrats of this country have lot to learn.
Recommend 0
Owais
Jan 07, 2015 02:28pm
Like tears on eyes of crocodiles.
Recommend 0
Mehboob Ali Lalani
Jan 07, 2015 06:13pm
This was ridiculous rather melodrama. Who has given power to party chief to buy conscience? Who made party chief so powerful? Was that according to democratic principle / spirit? Instead of crying he should have had resigned and not cast vote. Once the vote was cast, making of hue and cry has no sense.
Recommend 0
Hamid Khawaja
Jan 07, 2015 07:55pm
If he felt voting was against his conscience, WHY DID HE VOTE in favour of military courts? This is exactly the problem with our people, they cannot stand for what they believe. Shedding tears is no remedy.
Recommend 0
MC
Jan 07, 2015 09:08pm
Unbelievable, When our politicians are going to grow up and show some dignity and respect to the office not to their party Leaders. Crying will not get u anywhere, resignation will do!
Recommend 0
MC
Jan 07, 2015 09:11pm
Unbelievable, When our politicians are going to grow up and show some dignity and respect to the office not to party Leader.
Recommend 0
Dr. Sadaf
Jan 07, 2015 10:01pm
Hypocrisy at its height, does he mean to be taken seriously.
Recommend 0
Amad
Jan 07, 2015 10:14pm
Nothing but a drama! PPP gov like PML failed to provide security. Parliament should be locked nothing good coming out of it anyways.
Recommend 0
M. Johri ---canada
Jan 08, 2015 12:31am
@Goga Nalaik Yes resign , instead of shedding crocodile tears . You always support your Masters who happens to be corrupt ministers and other leaders. You are an old man , let some young blood should now come in politics.
Recommend 0
ziavrep labqi
Jan 08, 2015 01:09am
Does he really have a conscience? If he had one, he would have acted as per its dictate and then said so. And he has the gall to make a spectacle of his lack of conviction - for whatever reason. I am not impressed by his crocodile tears.
Recommend 0
ziavrep labqi
Jan 08, 2015 01:15am
@Dr. Sadaf He thinks the people are gullible and he can fool them at will. Save your tears for some other time, Mr.Rabbani.
Recommend 0
ziavrep labqi
Jan 08, 2015 01:38am
Take my advice, Senator ! Try your luck in TV or stage dramas - acting seems to come to you naturally after having befooled this nation for so many years.
Recommend 0
ziavrep labqi
Jan 08, 2015 02:01am
And some day Mr.Rabbani may also say that he allowed the loot and plunder of this unfortunate country against his conscience and that he did so on his party's behalf.
Recommend 0
ziavrep labqi
Jan 08, 2015 02:04am
Justification of the sin is more sinful than the sin itself.
Recommend 0
ziavrep labqi
Jan 08, 2015 02:36am
@Danish You really believe Mr.Rabbani has a conscience? The confirmatory test lies in his resignation from the senate as well as from PPP.
Recommend 0
ziavrep labqi
Jan 08, 2015 03:01am
@SK Very well said. I fully endorse you heartfelt sentiments.
Recommend 0
denise
Jan 08, 2015 03:08am
ashamed what raza rabani did drama , like a funny actor, only stupid and innocent public can consider it real, but raza rabbani did not weap when zardari looting robbing pakistani poor people funds and sources, raza rabbani did not weap when 50000 pakistani people killed by terrorist, raza rabbani did not weap when bhutto a great notanki and stage performer responsible for seperating east pakistan , rabbani did not weap when zardari and his party still looting bribery and robbing sources of poor sindhi these day,,,,,, thats v strange raza rabbani only weap when army wants to do some thing for pakistani people and want legal authority,,,,,,when pakistani public understand to these notankiz
Recommend 0
ziavrep labqi
Jan 08, 2015 08:06am
He forgot to cry while casting the vote ''on PPP's behalf''? Justification of the sin is worse than the sin itself.
Recommend 0
Zeesh
Jan 08, 2015 09:53am
This nation has lost more than 60,000 people to terrorist, more than 60,000 families are in tears, whole nation is crying for years. What is happening now is a direct result of Political system failure. Army will do now what politician could not do (and they had ample of time). Its your own fault Mr Rabani , its a consequence of your failure. Army will now clean up the mess that our politicians have created Insha ALLAH. May ALLAH keep our ARMY in his aman,(Ameen) Our prayers are with our brave Army.
Recommend 0
Raza
Jan 08, 2015 09:57am
Crocodile tears!!
Recommend 0
rizviirum@yahoo.com
Jan 08, 2015 11:13am
Rabbani Sahab, please donot try to shed crocodile tears. If as a Parliamentarians, you yourself and other, may have pass the proper and constitutional resolution 10 years back regarding the issue of terrorism and counter terroism, you would have not seen the day. This is all what you sow since your last 12 years as Senator so be ready to reap now. I still appreciate Gen. Musharaf who took action against the disgraced Lal Masjid & Co. Moreover,I still admire his foresightedness, which unfortuantely all of our so called seasoned Politician lack.
Recommend 0
Poland
Jan 08, 2015 11:27am
So what do u call a person who knows he's doing wrong but still does it?
Recommend 0
Rehana Batool
Jan 08, 2015 11:44am
“Conscience and cowardice are really the same things, Basil. Conscience is the trade-name of the firm. That is all.” ― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.” ― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches
Recommend 0
obaid
Jan 08, 2015 11:47am
Hippocracy at its limits. So ashamed to cry with tears in the assembly. But kursee naheen choron gaa.
Recommend 0
ziavrep labqi
Jan 08, 2015 12:05pm
@Rehana Batool Great thoughts of great persons, obviously for great persons - Raza Rabbani is not made of that stuff.
Recommend 0
Kanwarch
Jan 08, 2015 12:25pm
Mr Rabbani Read these comments, do the right thing and resign from senate.
Recommend 0
Aftab Ahmed Shah
Jan 08, 2015 03:29pm
Mr. Raza Rabbani is shedding tears now claiming having voted against his conscious. This is pure hypocrisy, nothing to do with reality. Can someone ask him who was first civilian marshal law administrator & during which democratic government military courts were first set up in Pakistan. If all this took place during Z. A. BHUTTO time where was Mr. Rabbani's conscious then. I very kindly & respectfully ask him to please spare the nation of double standards at least at this very critical juncture of Pakistan's history. If his conscious was so disturbed he could have simply refused to bow to party line & abstained from voting instead of dramatizing the situation. But by doing so he could have lost all the benefits he is enjoying currently, which he never wanted to happen.
Recommend 0
ziavrep labqi
Jan 08, 2015 04:18pm
@Khalil Anwer Hassan But his somnolent conscience is still serenely asleep. His antics in the Senate were for public consumption and had the blessing of Zardari, for sure.
Recommend 0
Zubair Nawaz
Jan 08, 2015 05:38pm
Should have resigned from the Senate and the party ! Surely would have been better than voting against conscience.
Recommend 0
Narejo
Jan 08, 2015 08:24pm
@SK indeed! I second u SK.
Recommend 0
Imran Bhatti
Jan 08, 2015 11:20pm
crocodile tears. he should have resigned instead. but vested interests does not allow. I really sorry for him.
Recommend 0
Amir Jan
Jan 09, 2015 12:27am
Shame on these hypocritical politicians such as Raza Rabbani. He should be ashamed of how Sindh is being misgoverned by his party and people are dying of hunger. If he has any conscience he would not be a part of PPP headed and run by so called leaders like Zardari who have amassed wealth while country has been ruined. Get out, resign if you have any conscience rather than voting and sticking around to enjoy perks as a senator.
Recommend 0
Omar
Jan 09, 2015 01:55am
It's very easy...... Resign and don't burden your 'conscience'. But then, that would be asking too much, right!
Recommend 0
Joe FL
Jan 09, 2015 05:56am
How to be a politician: 1. Have a conscience. 2. Ignore it when voting. 3. Cry. It's time to exchange that model for a better one.
Recommend 0

Most Popular

01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09

Latest Stories

Opinion

Editorial

Trump in Beijing
Updated 14 May, 2026

Trump in Beijing

China is no longer just a rising economic power.
Growing numbers
14 May, 2026

Growing numbers

FORWARD-looking nations do not just celebrate their advantages; they turn them into tangible gains. They also ...
No culling
14 May, 2026

No culling

CRUELTY implies an administrative failure to adopt humane solutions. Despite the Lahore High Court’s orders to use...
Unyielding stances
Updated 13 May, 2026

Unyielding stances

Every day that passes without clarity on how and when the war will end introduces fresh intensity to the uncertainty roiling global markets and adds to the economic turmoil the world must bear because of it.
Gwadar rising?
13 May, 2026

Gwadar rising?

COULD the Middle East conflict prove to be a boon for the Gwadar port? Islamabad’s push to position Gwadar as a...
Locked in
13 May, 2026

Locked in

THE acquittal of as many as 74 PTI activists by a Peshawar court in a case pertaining to the May 2023 violence is a...
Dawn News English Podcasts
Subscribe