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Rabbani says institutions subordinate to parliament

Amjad Mahmood Published
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LAHORE: Senate Chair­man Raza Rabbani has stressed the need for dialogue among state institutions, but asserted that all institutions are subordinate to parliament.

Dialogue, he said, was extremely necessary beca­use the country would not be able to move forward without it, but parliament must be held supreme in the process because it was above all institutions.

Mr Rabbani was speaking at the launching of a book, “Pakistan: The Way For­ward”, written by Afnan Khan.

Also read: Rabbani stresses dialogue for supremacy of Constitution

Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal and former foreign minister Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali also spoke on the occasion.

The country, Mr Rabbani warned, could not afford more experiments, could not afford anymore dictatorship. He disagreed strongly with a proposal made in the book that the National Security Council should be made a supra-parliament body.

“The concept was actively experimented during the Musharraf regime, but failed.”

The Senate chairman also criticised a suggestion that efforts to end Indian influence in Afghanistan should be made in cooperation with Taliban.

According to him, making a distinction between `good’ and`bad’ Taliban was against the vision of Quaid-i-Azam and social values of Pakistan because that would promote sectarianism and extremism.

Reiterating his stance on accountability, he said that process should be across the board. There should be `no sacred cows’ and no discrimination in the process of dealing with the issue.

“I admit that there are corrupt elements among the political class, but are not such elements present among civil and military bureaucrats,” he said, adding that special (anti-corruption) courts and laws should not be there only for politicians.

Mr Rashid criticised the school curriculum in the country and said it had created narrow-mindedness and a militant mindset.

“Our own blunders are responsible for the backwardness of the Muslim world in general and Pakistan in particular,” he said.

Mr Ahsan Iqbal said that political stability and continuity of policies would ensure development and progress of the country.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2015

Pakistan
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Amjad Mahmood is a Lahore-based reporter for Dawn with over three and a half decades of experience. He covers agricultural issues, as well as Punjab’s politics and governance. He can be found on X at @Amjad012345.

Amjad Mahmood

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Vaidyanathan
Dec 05, 2015 07:26am
Don't commit the mistake of taking the support of terrorism, ultimately it would destroy your own children.
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JS Sheikh
Dec 05, 2015 07:41am
Rabbani has got it wrong. The constitutional amendments have made parliament subservient to the leaders of the political parties. The legislators are mere rubber stamps now. Although it is not supposed to be like this under the separation of powers, however, this is what has become of our constitution. Rabbani should remember his tears in the parliament. In current scheme of things, the parliament is not and should not be regarded sovereign.
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Zaheer Ahmed
Dec 05, 2015 07:47am
Which parliament? The one which is full of cronies of corrupt, fake degree holders and professional politicians who are always with the ruling party. It would be better to throw country to the dogs rather than giving these elite of the elites Parliamentarians the total control.
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khara aur karwa such
Dec 05, 2015 08:00am
First of all, please establish the sanctity of parliament. It should be realized that respect is commanded, not demanded.
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Saleem
Dec 05, 2015 08:25am
What cronies sitting in parliament has done for the country? While cronies sitting in parliament are trying to define their boundaries other institutions are at least doing something. People are with those who deliver, not govern.
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Nobel
Dec 05, 2015 08:26am
But Parliament failed to stop corruption,bad governance economic failure and fast decline in rupee value,and the 20 crore people are suffering due to above failures.Unfortunately the people of Pakistan are not happy with the Parliament and Senate. Just recently the Chief Justice Supreme Court have also commented adversely on government . God bless our country.
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Shaukat Ali Khan
Dec 05, 2015 08:27am
Everyone in Pakistan thinks that he/she is the ruler. Politicians beg for votes to serve but become rulers after elections and only thing that matters for them is their personal prestige, ego and authority.
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Syed Ahmed, Canada
Dec 05, 2015 08:29am
@Vaidyanathan: Does that satisfy you Mr. Raza Rabbani? Your sermon that the parliament must be held supreme because it was above all institutions. No Mr. Rabbani, gone are the days when the parliament used to be supreme. It is now a criminals chamber, occupied by money launderers, land grabbers and terrorist’s supporters. It has lost its sanctity. The seats of the parliament are purchased for millions of rupees. Where does the money come from? It will be better for you not to spaek.
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naji
Dec 05, 2015 08:32am
What institution? Members of all Provincial Assemblies and NA are most corrupt people Pakistan has ever seen. Your own party members are extremely corrupt and dishonest people on earth. Sitting in Dubai, who is paying all their expenses? You people ruin Sindh in last 7 years. So called city Karachi is without water, Gas, Electricity, Mass Transit System, not their own security system, no government, no management. Karachi where I am living is more than a hell.
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tinker bell
Dec 05, 2015 08:35am
Sick of these no good politicians making claims of supremacy. I would like to know of their contribution towards this country. Except of filling their own coffers and siphoning money out of this country what have these guys ever done?
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A Khan
Dec 05, 2015 08:36am
If the politicians,members of parliament, president or prime minister are corrupt then who will look after the interest of the people and the country. Running the affairs of the state from foreign soil is not an option anymore. That is for sure. Look around who do you have in the parliament and you will get the answer
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SMI
Dec 05, 2015 08:39am
People running parliment are servant to the Nation Is it true ?
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javed
Dec 05, 2015 08:50am
Sick of Mr Rabbani's same old sermon. I would love to see this parliament with its members blown to oblivion . They have not done anything for the betterment of this country except filling their pockets
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irfaniftekhar
Dec 05, 2015 08:53am
Which parliament Sir ????
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zafar
Dec 05, 2015 09:11am
These guys are so messed up. What about laws, constitution. A parliament which comes into being after breaking the laws of the land, and keeps doing it while in office has to be brought down to earth. No one, and that includes the parliament is above the law!
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TKhan
Dec 05, 2015 09:15am
No decent & honest Institution should be subordinate to dysfunctional Parliament and especially to inept Parliamentarian.
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hassan
Dec 05, 2015 09:33am
Provided it is represented by those who do not cut corners in taxes, can justify their wealth and life style glaringly disproportionate to the people they are expected to serve.
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N K Ali
Dec 05, 2015 09:35am
If Parliament is supreme to al institutions, then position one politician in every state and private institution to oversee the operations. Parliament will always let off the crooks that rob to enrich them, but its the police and courts that cut them off. Why have independent institutions?
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Asif Kamil
Dec 05, 2015 09:38am
@tinker bell . Totally agree .
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Riazullah Baig
Dec 05, 2015 09:39am
Why would these "institutions" be subordinate to venerated barbarians oh sorry lawmakers like AZ, NS, YRG, RPA, SS and many more like them? On what moral grounds please? We do not live in an ideal society.
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Khalid
Dec 05, 2015 09:56am
Yes indeed Parliament is supreme, but what would you say about parliamentarians ability to discuss country's security issues.Most of them are indulged in corruption so much that they don't have time to think about the country and its severe problems and they are the real creators of all those problems that we are currently facing. National Security Council was a specialized body made up of forces chiefs and defense analyst that know the country's security problems and then were made recommendations to the Government accordingly. This Council should constitutionally be made in the country. Its our need.
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Arslan
Dec 05, 2015 09:58am
The mantra has not changed. Give me all the authority and prestige to go with it, but as little of responsibility and tasks. If my performance is questioned, the best defense is to criticize everybody else's performance. Can there be any positive emphasis on output? How many laws has parliament made? What social ills have they resolved?
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Hassan
Dec 05, 2015 10:01am
And parliament is subordinate to people who spend time in dubai and london
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AW
Dec 05, 2015 10:23am
In order to gain credibility and respect, the Parliament should start doing its job which is to legislate. The urgent tasks is to start working immediately on reforms of the Judiciary and of the system of the government. Please do your job and stop talking about "democracy" and complaining about "other" institutions. All will fall in place only if parliament becomes an impartial and effective institution which is focused on public service and on national interest
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Javed Arshad
Dec 05, 2015 10:25am
Deeds matter. Mr. Rabbani, do the parliamentarians give any respect to the oath they take under the constitution ? So why you do you expect others to be subordinate to you under the same constitution. Please give these lectures to your colleagues in both houses and down below. Let them prove their worth through good character and not just constitutional cover. Reading the comments below, people seem literally SICK listening to these hollow lectures. ENOUGH !
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One who knows
Dec 05, 2015 10:26am
@khara aur karwa such You are absolutely right. The kind of people we have in the parliament, the less said the better. Most of them don't care for their or their family's prestige or respect or reputation. All they are interested in is to grab more and more by hook or crook. They loot and plunder and when taken to task, want the institutions to support them or to keep quiet and let them commit daylight robbery. Raza Rabbani would not have had to give his sermon to the institutions if the hands of the parliamentarians were clean. Ordinary citizens would willingly support the institutions striving for the supremacy of law rather than cheer the corrupt sitting in the parliament, scheming to perpetuate their rule for more and yet more plunder.
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Saad Saeed
Dec 05, 2015 10:27am
A wrong statement. The right one is 'All institutions are subordinate to constitution'.
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khara aur karwa such
Dec 05, 2015 10:28am
@Saleem Very well said. But sadly, those ruling over us are immune to shame.
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Shahid
Dec 05, 2015 10:39am
Are these people politicians or jokers. Every third day they have to tell the world that the parliament i supreme. Dear Rabani, it does not matter what our constitution says about the sovereignty of this house until other articles of the constitution are also respected by the parliament and its members. When the people like you close eyes and mouth to your own party leaders plundering the nation for billions of dollars, when parliament members do not pay taxes and when nothing ever gets discussed in the same very parliament then you can't just hold to one liner about the sovereignty. The parliament it self is nothing sir, but a house of elected politicians who mostly are involved in corrupt practices. These politicians including yours own excellency need to earn their respect and thereby the sovereignty of this house. Otherwise no one gives a dime for what you go on to repeat.
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PaKisTaN Zindabad
Dec 05, 2015 10:46am
Thanks for sharing such a critical information Rabbani Sab. We never knew it...
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Mustafa
Dec 05, 2015 10:48am
The minimum standard for sitting Pakistani parliamentarians is not even an undergraduate degree. They voted the law that puts a bar demanding a minimum of a Bachelor's degree to be removed. What this thuggish uneducated lot of parliamentarians is doing for the country, we already know. Somebody please look at the academic backgrounds of Cabinet Ministers of places like Singapore which directly reflects how that place is and compare it to our country. See the difference.
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Mustafa R.
Dec 05, 2015 10:48am
First the parliament needs to be subservient to the people of this nation.
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khara aur karwa such
Dec 05, 2015 10:56am
@Shahid All other articles of the constitution are brazenly trampled upon or shamelessly ignored, except harping all the time on the same string about the parliament being supreme to all institutions. Only such a parliament is held in esteem by the masses which respects and enforces the rights of all the citizens. Mr. Rabbani can measure himself and his parliament / senate on this scale and judge where they stand. I am sure he already knows, being an educated person, atleast.
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khara aur karwa such
Dec 05, 2015 11:00am
@Mustafa R. I am inclined to modify your comment as under: First the parliament needs to be subservient to the WILL of the people of this nation.
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M Rafique
Dec 05, 2015 11:05am
" There should be `no sacred cows’ and no discrimination in the process of dealing with the issue (corruption)." The most honorable senate' chairman. most senior leader of PPP with lust of democracy, you forget to mention what, across the board, steps taken by your party, remained in power (leaving period before 2oo8) in center from 2008 to 2013 and governing sindh since 2008,
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Mohammad Fida
Dec 05, 2015 11:26am
when he is in govt would give wise statements but out he laggards ...now see if he agree that parliament is an institution too?and creates other institutions of even equal worth and power as it has or otherwise stated in the law which creates such institutions....
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Engr. khan
Dec 05, 2015 11:35am
What was the need of this statement. Means something cooking up
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S.Khan
Dec 05, 2015 11:45am
It is true we can not afford any more experiments but we have to strengthen our institutions remaining within the constitution. These were the experiments as a result of which we lost half of our country in 1971. We should understand it clearly that guns can not keep people together so have mercy on this country.
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TZaman
Dec 05, 2015 11:48am
Most of the commentators have strange logic. Don't they realize the country is still united because of this and the previous parliament. The settled urban population still did not experienced civil strife or experience being a refugee. List back the events since 2007. And bless that we at least have some kind of functional parliament and some sensible politicians.
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Humayun Bhatty
Dec 05, 2015 11:49am
O Rabbabi, do you know Parliament is only superior if it is an honest Parliament comprising of Honest and Dignified men. But, alas, you all are corrupt to the hilt. Now hiding within and without country, Dubai is your choice of hiding.
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Riazullah Baig
Dec 05, 2015 12:04pm
@TZaman wow; great to know that this country is still united because of parliament arians like Yousaf Raza Gilani, Rehman Malik, Asif Zardari, Pervaiz Asfraf, NS, SS and many more.
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Riazullah Baig
Dec 05, 2015 12:05pm
@TZaman by the way, what is your definition of unity and a transparent system?
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khara aur karwa such
Dec 05, 2015 12:10pm
@TZaman Most of the commentators want things to improve further and at a faster pace. There is nothing wrong with that expectation. By the way, this or the previous parliament has done nothing to keep the country united. All the parties have been pulling in different directions. It is only the armed forces that always act as the binding force .
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Riaz
Dec 05, 2015 12:28pm
There can be no subordination to the corrupt in parliament. Subordination to crooks is ethically and moraly wrong, and by all civilised standerds an abdication of civilised human norms. A parliament that violates the constitution on daily bases forfiets the right to supremacy. In such a scenario, any institution has the right to hold the parliament to account.
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khara aur karwa such
Dec 05, 2015 12:33pm
@Humayun Bhatty Mr. Rabbani should tell his fellow parliamentarians and senators to first work hard to improve their public perception. If the image of the parliamentarians remains the same or goes further down the slide, people would care a dime if the parliament is unable to exert itself over the institutions due to the misdeeds its corruption infested members.
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Kalim
Dec 05, 2015 12:36pm
Senate Chair­man Raza Rabbani has stressed the need for dialogue among state institutions, but asserted that all institutions are subordinate to parliament" The Parliament that is chaired by Honest people like Zardari Sb... And people like him will make these institutions autonomous that would work freely and independently.. Some one bring me my feeder
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Tough Tr5
Dec 05, 2015 12:37pm
I find it ironical that we are asking about dialogue among institutions of one country. Usually dialogues are carried out where a lot of gap exists.
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Naved
Dec 05, 2015 12:43pm
Being elected members, parliamentarians responsibility is much higher, so don't compare yourselves with others. If you think you are superior than show it by your deeds not just by lip service.
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khara aur karwa such
Dec 05, 2015 12:58pm
Politicians and members of parliament or senate are also no sacred cows. So, why a corrupt politician or parliamentarian is supported by fellow politicians or parliamentarians when he / she is taken to task as per law for wrong doing?
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M.M.Sherazi
Dec 05, 2015 01:06pm
He is such an outstanding politician with an apparent affiliation with PPP, who has always twisted the fact, shall he be able to bring in educated people who are capable of drafting policies in the Parliament instead of having illiterate and ill-disciplined representatives who are merely elected on their rural influences driven through feudalism. It is such a pitiful process of democracy in Pakistan, where we see irrelevant people being elected as public office holders, who cannot even say anything about the fact, unless, people like Rabbani have their dictated say to impress the audiences.
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James
Dec 05, 2015 01:23pm
Parliament is subordinate to corruption and nepotism.
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shafqat
Dec 05, 2015 01:32pm
Mr Rabbani is 100% right.Parliament soveriegnity is above all.This is dilemma of this nation that still they dont understand that. All grave mistakes in Pakistan political history were made under non-democratic regimes and still no accountability.All targets towards politicians,good or bad.Since 1954 if political system would ve not been interrupted,East Pakistan would have not separated.Weak democracy is the result of Past harsh regimes.People of Pakistan has to wake up now,try to search for for the root causes of problems.True democracy is prevailing.This is the beauty of True democracy that they are criticising it without fear,Could they do it in Past?All institutes accountable to Parliament whether you like it or not:
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khara aur karwa such
Dec 05, 2015 02:15pm
@M.M.Sherazi It is no democracy that we have; it better be called lootocracy.
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khara aur karwa such
Dec 05, 2015 02:33pm
PAKISTAN : The one and only way forward is the rule of law - by the people and for the people. Forget all else. This covers all and for all times. No ifs and buts.
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ailly
Dec 05, 2015 02:52pm
@Shaukat Ali Khan - you are very intelligent, thanks as I was not knowing what politicians do once selected for parliament. will you grow up ?.
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Khwarezmi
Dec 05, 2015 02:57pm
If the institutions are subordinate to parliament, then the parliment is subordinate to the people, a fact these politicians very conveniently forgets in their rush for NRO and corrupt practises to steal money from the people and VIP treatment for them and their families.
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Attique
Dec 05, 2015 02:59pm
mr Rabbani unfortunately if PPP PARLIMENT legitimizes corruption as legal then......
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Nadeem
Dec 05, 2015 03:03pm
There is corruption at all levels. But nothing like what political leaders have done and this parliament and senate has done nothing about it but join together to support the corrupt.
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MAlvi
Dec 05, 2015 03:25pm
Rabbani is not in his full senses.
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Abdulgaffarjamal
Dec 05, 2015 03:47pm
True institutions are subordinate to parliament and parliament only to people no matter what happens. We copy and paste only but advanced democracies are very intelligent and they don't dare for badmashi or goons aims. There is only merit system and here anything but merit.
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khara aur karwa such
Dec 05, 2015 03:48pm
@Nobel Chief Justice Supreme Court also needs to take notice of the raft of ills that seriously undermine the effectiveness of our legal system. If the legal system is revamped and revived to its pristine glory, rest assured, the country will take off at supersonic speed. The nation is looking towards CJ SC to initiate action for restoring the nation's confidence in the legal system.
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khara aur karwa such
Dec 05, 2015 03:50pm
@Syed Ahmed, Canada I wish Mr. Rabbani reads all the comments posted here.
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Taimoor Khan
Dec 05, 2015 03:59pm
So you and your desk thumping colleagues can loot the country and then flew away, without any checks and balances? Thanks but no thanks.
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Mian
Dec 05, 2015 04:26pm
Bunch of corrupts in the name of Royal Democracy teaching us lessons of morality. sick and tired of these status political
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Musarrat Javed
Dec 05, 2015 04:31pm
This is true as per law but practically all institutions are subordinate to Army. So infect there is no rule of it is rule of gun. When there is no rule of law mess bound to come. Army and politicians both are equally responsible for this mess.
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zafar
Dec 05, 2015 04:43pm
Rabbani and his friends are superior to other institutions yes.
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PAK FA
Dec 05, 2015 05:07pm
@Vaidyanathan Same advice stands relevant to India
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khara aur karwa such
Dec 05, 2015 05:10pm
@Taimoor Khan Well ! This is the very concept that Mr. Rabbani seems to cherish for himself and his colleagues through the much trumpeted supremacy of the parliament.
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Keti Zilgish
Dec 05, 2015 05:24pm
Only the people can be considered supreme. In order to facilitate corruption they were forced to bestow long mandates upon their representatives. The only way to limit corruption is to reduce the mandates of representatives from years to months and with clearly specified goals.
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imran ghori
Dec 05, 2015 05:24pm
All the institutions remain within their limit,,,especially pak army,, Parliament and democracy is supreme,,, zardari -nawaz,, billions carouption is legal,,, bcz in Pakistan democracy only one mean,, carouption,, carouption,, carouption,,
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Shahid Ali
Dec 05, 2015 06:19pm
All Institutions must be fully independent.
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M.ASIF
Dec 05, 2015 06:48pm
@JS Sheikh you are one hundred percent right. Mr Rabbani knows well. Do you think his tears were real? Why has he agreed to accept Bilawal his leader. Remember 2500 years old Roman Republic and its senate.
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Ahmad Ahsan
Dec 05, 2015 07:32pm
Rabbani Sahib, with utmost respect to you. Sir is the parliament is doing its job. There are laws which were passed or copied from the British India act. When a bill or legislation is passed it is not discussed on the floor of the house. Every thing is discussed in APC. Sir in democracy the most scared and highest forum to discuss is the floor of the parliament. I wish you could have seen the recent debate in the British parliament on their vote to Bomb Syria. We can agree and disagree with motion, but there was a debate. We seldom see a debate in our parliament. Please become a parliament and rise above party leader politics and then demand respect from all state institutions and the people. Sir if we can see this happening people will stand behind the parliament and defend it. Mere words don't give you the power, but your action will give you power.
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Saqib
Dec 05, 2015 08:10pm
I am really sorry to say now Parliament House has become an institution of corruption process. We learnt a lot and I really felt sorry to say politicians will never learn lesson as they are busy to find out the new ways of corruption. We are waiting for General Raheel step to make our country safe and kick out all corrupted forces and bring them to justice.
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M.Saeed
Dec 05, 2015 08:43pm
---and Parliament subordinate to fake credentials holding spurious members!
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Shah
Dec 05, 2015 08:44pm
Senate Chairman Mr. Raza Rabbani, Institutions are NOT subordinate to Parliament, Institutions are subordinate to LAW. LAW is supreme, come and see in CANADA. There is no such concept of Parliament being supreme.
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ali
Dec 05, 2015 09:36pm
agree with the Mr.rabbani. actually our country some lobby specially in punjab supporting to the dictatorship.
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Zahir uddin
Dec 05, 2015 10:26pm
But Sir the country certainly cannot afford another Zardari or the likes of all those who plundered this "poor" country. I think it NEVER occurs to our leaders. Remember if you remain silent you are part of the problem.All these sermons to the people sound so hollow. Sadly high moral ground perhaps does'nt exist in this country anymore
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A Pakistani
Dec 05, 2015 10:32pm
Mr. Rabbani should visit the National Assembly unannounced and see how many Parliamentarians are in attendance on that day. The PM seldom attends. Our Parliamentarians actually subvert the institutions that they are supposed to nurture to make them serve democracy. They are not democracts by temperament. Mr. Rabbani is fooling himself more than fooling the nation.
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Parvez
Dec 05, 2015 11:08pm
Mr. Rabbani, when Parliament works only for parliamentarians and cares nothing about the people......your fight for supremacy of Parliament simply makes you appear as both dishonest and naive.
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Ali
Dec 06, 2015 12:15am
Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani should stop insulting us by saying parliament is supreme? Not this parliament, as most parliamentarians are guilty of getting in by fraud with fake degrees, they don't pay taxes, they are corrupt and their ignorance is shocking? The people of Pakistan found out that 18th Amendment was the biggest blunder committed by the parliament, transferring powers to provincial governments, for which they don't have capability to take on extra responsibilities and billions transferred to provinces only increased corruption. This has weakened the country. We demands "accountability" of corrupt politicians for corruption and bad governance, they have brought bad name to democracy and harmed Pakistan.
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rehan
Dec 06, 2015 12:40am
And the parliament should be subservient to the people. Is it the case Mr Rabani?
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khara aur karwa such
Dec 06, 2015 12:58am
@ali Please read carefully the comment of Mr. Shah for a clear understanding of the issue.
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Zahir uddin
Dec 06, 2015 02:00am
@shafqat : There is no parliament Sir. This is only a sterile club for the elite and the corrupt. How naive can you get ? Theoretically everyone knows this but practically it is a bunch of looters who just want to hold on to the status quo.
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Aziz
Dec 06, 2015 02:15am
Mr. Rabbani: The parliament is also an institution. Just like the judiciary is an institution. So are the press, the police, the army. Parliamentary sovereignty concept is now dated. Parliament cannot claim supremacy over the judiciary or the press. They all have their sphere of influence and independence. Nawaz Sharif's Parliament, as we can all see is an empty vessel with absentee representatives including the PM himself . And the saying goes "empty vessels make the most noise". Pakistan needs to now enter a zone of silence and action, not empty words like in our Parliament.
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