LAHORE: The parliament is the supreme institution that reflects collective will and wisdom of 220 million people and is the only forum where all issues, political or economic, of the country should be taken up and resolved.

This was stated by National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf here on Saturday while addressing a seminar titled “The 18th Amendment in the Constitution of Pakistan: its impact on provinces” at Alhamra Hall here on Saturday.

“Our society is becoming increasingly intolerant and victim of haste. Both these menaces right now are damaging the state and society. Politics is becoming increasingly acrimonious, impacting all and sundry. Threats of killing, bloodshed and turning political differences into personal enmity are not politics. Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto fought all her life for constitutionalism and Asif Ali Zardari later continued with the same spirit when he raised slogan of “Pakistan Khapey.” Pakistan will be a loser if institutions become controversial,” Raja Pervaiz warned.

Earlier, throwing light on the negotiations leading up to the 18th amendment, PPP leader Farhatullah Babar said he was eyewitness to the entire process.

“One must understand there were some forces who wanted to break the constitution. Pakistan lost its eastern wing due to lack of provincial autonomy. The 18th amendment provided the necessary safety valve by transferring powers to provinces. The biggest threat to democracy in Pakistan was article 58-2-b, empowering the president to dissolve the national assembly. The judiciary sanctified those steps of presidents. It was the PPP that blocked the way of these unconstitutional and anti-democracy steps by introducing the 18th amendment, which provided the necessary safety valve by transferring economic and political powers to the provinces. Conspiracies against democracy are still being hatched. Bringing Imran Khan into power is one such example. But the PPP would continue with its fight for democracy and bad influences on it,” he said.

Noted lawyer Abid Saqi linked the PPP to survival of democracy in the country. No PPP leader has ever run abroad. They stayed in the country and fought for democracy.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2022