ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani said on Thursday that parliament had the potential to dictate terms of reference not only for national security but also for serious foreign policy issues confronting the country.

“Those who think that parliament is not an effective institution, have their own vested interests and are not willing to transfer powers to democratic institutions, he said while addressing short-term interns of the Senate at the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services.

The Senate chairman urged young people of the country to follow in the footsteps of those who worked for the supremacy of the Constitution and never compromised on their principles.

He said that effective measures had been taken to improve the working of parliament with regards to its role in legislation, oversight of the executive and transparency. He said democracy could not flourish without passing hurdles and obstacles with a commitment and resolve.

Need stressed for striking a balance between powers of the National Assembly and Senate

“People were denied fruits of democracy for long and whatever the cost, the new generation will not face these issues. In the struggle of a democratic rule and supremacy of parliament we cannot afford to lose. The new generation should remember that democracy is not given on a silver platter. People were tortured, women were dragged on roads and dishonoured in police stations for their struggle for the rule of law,” the Senate chairman said.

Later, in an interaction with members of provincial assemblies at the Parliament House, Mr Rabbani said that there was a need for striking a balance between powers of the National Assembly and Senate to enable the upper house to better protect rights of federating units and raise a voice for marginalised and underprivileged segments of society.

Replying to several questions from members of provincial assemblies, he said the 18th Amendment in the Constitution was a major breakthrough towards provincial autonomy and under this amendment provinces had been given the right over natural resources.

The Senate chairman said a centrist mind-set was creating hurdles in the way of smooth implementation of this amendment.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2017