ISLAMABAD: Acting President Raza Rabbani on Wednesday said continuity of the democratic process is the only way to rid the country of the social, political and economic ills.
He expressed these views while addressing a gathering at the launching ceremony of the book “Consistent Parliamentary Cord; The Fundamental Rights of the Citizens of Pakistan” at Parliament House. The book has been authored by renowned civic educationist and activist Zafarullah Khan and has been published by Senate. The acting president pointed out that equality before law has been missing and the rule of law has faded away. “Unfortunately, in Pakistan we work under a system which has five types of applicability of law,” he stated. First, Raza Rabbani, said one set of rules and laws are for the ruling elite.
He said people violating Article 6 of the constitution are not appearing before courts. The other set of rules, Raza Rabbani said, are for the ruling civilian elite. The third category is of rules is for the collaborators of the ruling elite; the fourth for the rich and the powerful and fifth for the ordinary citizens of Pakistan. However, he said that according to the constitution of Pakistan, all citizens are equal before law and deserve to be treated equally. He said that since 1947, a systemic effort has been made by certain quarters to make the people believe that parliament, political class and political workers have failed to come meet the expectations of the people of Pakistan.
He further said that undemocratic interventions after every ten years created a gap due to which people remained unaware of their fundamental rights. “The parliamentary democratic system needs to be strengthened if we want to see the federation to flourish,” he said, adding that the book clearly depicts the historical perspective of the parliamentary struggle for upholding the fundamental rights. He commended the efforts of the author and contributions made by the Senate Secretariat to highlight the importance of the fundamental rights.
Rabbani remarked that efforts are being made to ensure the protection of human rights in Pakistan. The best way to protect the human rights is that parliament constantly makes laws that prohibit their violation, he added.
Leader of the House in Senate, Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq said the author of the book has said that the “flower of freedom” can only blossom in a democratic environment. He emphasised on the efforts made by parliament since 1947 to uphold and protect human rights in the country.
Senate Secretary Amjed Pervez said the book consists of all the efforts carried out by parliament since its inception so that masses could come to know of the parliamentary efforts to ensure human rights in the country. Former Senate chairman Nayyer Hussain Bokhari also underscored the need for continuity of the democratic system and commended the efforts of the author and the Senate Secretariat to take such a bold initiative.
