Rabbani sees no threat to democracy
KARACHI: Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani has said there will be no threat to democracy if the government and political parties continue to adhere to democratic norms and principles.
Talking to newsmen after offering Fateha at the Mausoleum of the Quaid-i-Azam here on Sunday, Mr Rabbani said the country and the federation were facing a grave situation, both internally and internationally. The internal situation could be handled with the unity of democratic forces and state institutions. National objectives could be attained only through unity, he added.
Know more: Raza Rabbani — Pakistan’s ‘Mr Clean’
“Our coming generations will not forgive us if we make a mistake at this juncture because there is no room for making a mistake.”
He said parliament and political forces were with the armed forces in their campaign against terrorism, elimination of which was essential for stabilising economy and alleviating poverty.
He said as chairman of the Senate he would concentrate on issues of the common man, national security and legislation.
Mr Rabbani said that the 18th Amendment had addressed to some extent the sense of deprivation among smaller provinces, but unfortunately the provinces and the federation had failed to implement it fully.
He said that being a chamber of the federation the Senate would draw attention of the provinces and the federation to the need to implement the 18th Amendment in letter and spirit.
Answering a question he said that thorough discussions on motions and resolutions presented in the house by members about their provinces would be ensured and recommendations would be sent to the provinces and the federation for implementation.
Mr Rabbani said he had directed the Senate secretariat to work out a mechanism to determine how many recommendations passed by the house had been implemented.
He said it was the responsibility of the government to hold elections for Senators from Fata at the earliest because the related ordinance had been withdrawn.
About the issue of distribution of oil and mineral resources, he said provinces had failed to take up the issue with the federal government with the same intensity with which it had been raised.
Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2015
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