ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani on Friday said the civil-military establishment never accepted politicians and turned the country into a garrison state.

“If the system is derailed again, the federation will disintegrate. Moreover, any attempt to roll back the 18th Amendment will give an opportunity to nationalists to criticise the state.”

Mr Rabbani was speaking at a seminar, “Constitution Day”, which was organised by the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS).

Take a look: Raza Rabbani — Pakistan’s ‘Mr Clean’

He said that on April 10, 1973, the Constitution was passed unanimously but even today we frequently hear that there is a threat to the Constitution. The new generation should know the reason for such a threat.

“Maligning the politicians started in 1947 when it was decided to make the country a welfare state. Just after the death of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the country was converted into a garrison state by the civil-military establishment because they wanted to exercise the power,” he said.

“On the other hand, politicians and political parties obeyed and helped them. The strategy of divide and rule was also adopted to control the people,” he said.

Senate chairman says if the system is derailed again, the federation will disintegrate

Mr Rabbani said the constitution of 1956 was made by the people’s representatives but he did not accept the 1962 constitution because it was crafted by a dictator.

“However, the Constitution of 1973 is the biggest and perhaps the last consensus document of the country. Dictators temporarily suspended the Constitution because the civil-military establishment knew that such a constitution cannot be made again.”

He said the Constitution was made after a number of sacrifices and even when it was prepared people sacrificed their lives to protect it. The Constitution guarantees the rights of the people.

In the past, he added, those who tried to protect the Constitution and talked about the provincial autonomy were declared Indian agents besides being accused of trying to divide the country.

“But the fact is that Pakistan is a multi-ethnic state and there is a need for ensuring unity through diversity.

He said the best way to eradicate corruption and other flaws was to hold elections regularly and allow people to reject the corrupt politicians.

Mr Rabbani acknowledged that there were also shortfalls in the system and for their removal changes can be made to the Constitution.

“I also have issues with the 18th Amendment because provinces are not delivering and the chief ministers are sleeping but a reverse cycle should not be allowed. Nationalists of Balochistan were taken onboard at the time of 18th Amendment’s passage. In case the amendment is rolled back, those who are still carrying out an armed struggle will start arguing that their armed struggle should not stop,” he said.

Senate Deputy Chairman Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said he spent most of his life defending the Constitution.

“I spent one year in the jail of Sibi, Balochistan, and faced punishment of 10 lashes for protecting the Constitution. It is illogical and impossible to make another constitution similar to the Constitution of 1973. So we should protect it,” he said.

MNA Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk said when Pakistan came into being there were no facilities. The new generation has access to education and other facilities.

Former chief minister Sindh Muzaffar Hussain Shah said unfortunately Pakistan lost its founding father very early. It was because of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto that the 1973 Constitution was passed with a consensus, he added.

A speech contest on the “Constitution Day” was also held on the occasion in which students from different educational institutions participated.

Mohammad Maqbool Khan, who judged the contest, told Dawn that Faruzan A Butt, a student of F-7/2 College, was declared first, Fahad Amin, of International Islamic University, second and Mohammad Shahzeb of Iqra University third. The consolation prize for the forth position was given to Naima Bintay Shahab, a student of Fatima Jinnah Women University.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2015

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