ISLAMABAD: Appalled by frequent exchanges of barbs between lawmakers, former chairman of Senate Mian Raza Rabbani has proposed an 11-point formula to establish parliament’s supremacy.

In an open letter written to the members of parliament and provincial assemblies, he observes that the current parliamentary impasse has created a situation in which they, wittingly or unwittingly, are weakening these institutions and as a result they are being eroded and fading into redundancy.

“I write this open letter on the initial premise that all the civilian stakeholders in the federal, democratic and parliamentary system are committed to and steadfast to their oath prescribed in the Constitution, 1973,” the document reads.

He said millions of political workers in the country had sacrificed their lives for the rule of law and supremacy of constitution, adding that they were arrested and tortured during their struggles.

Mr Rabbani said agreeing to disagree was the essence of democratic polity. “Parliaments in international jurisdiction and our own have seen fierce disagreements on internal and external policies but within the limits prescribed by the rules of procedure.”

Quoting the famous saying of Rumi ‘your worst enemy is hiding within yourself, and that enemy is your nafs or false ego’, he said unfortunately in the present context legislators’ accusations were frivolous, personal and repetitious. “A question that each one of us must ask ourselves is, will we permit our egos to weaken our institutions or shall we open a window in the centre of our chest and let the evil grudges fly out to enable institutions to flourish and take up people and Pakistan related issues,” he added.

In his 11 points, Mr Rabbani stressed the need for the restoration of the respect and dignity of the offices of the Senate chairman and the National Assembly speaker. The chairman and speaker should act freely, fairly and impartially and in accordance with rules.

He said the house business committees, functioning under their respective presiding officers, should provide collective leadership to their respective house and their decisions should be implemented in letter and spirit. Presiding officers should judiciously use the rule of, “naming a member” or “suspending a member” in cases of indiscipline on the floor of the house.

He said legislators should not use abusive language in parliament and provincial assemblies and instead of raising slogans they should use parliamentary modes of protest.

According to him, the parliamentary affairs minister and other treasury members must engage opposition members in the business of the house. Minister must ensure their presence in the house. The decision taken in house committees or by presiding officers should not ordinarily be revisited.

He said internal proceedings, including decisions taken in parliament, should not be agitated at other forums, such as courts, as provided in the 1973 Constitution.

The opposition while exercising its right of political oversight and accountability of the executive should remain within the rules of procedure, he added.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2019