The historic draft of 18th Constitutional Amendment Bill, an outcome of the nine-month deliberations by Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms (PCCR), was tabled in National Assembly and Senate on Friday for approval. The presentation of the draft bill by Senator Mian Raza Rabani, Chairman PCCR was welcomed with desk thumping applause.
Minority MNA of Pakistan Muslim League-Q Akram Masih Gill walked out of the House, protesting against what he said the non-representation of minorities on the constitutional committee. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani was present in the House but leader of the opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Law Minister Babar Awan stayed away from the House.
In his speech, Senator Rabbani termed the reform bill, a landmark document in the history of the country, describing it "a bill of hopes, fundamental rights and experiences". "March 31 and April 02 will be remembered in the history of Pakistan, as for the first time all the political parties unanimously proposed amendments in 1973 constitution, whereas in the past the dictators amended the constitution just to perpetuate their rule," he added.
Appreciating the role of political parties, he said the country's political leadership had proved that politics of reconciliation was key to resolution of all issues. He lauded constitutional committee's role. According to Rabbani, the credit for this achievement goes to the late Benazir Bhutto.
He said: "we dedicate this historical day to the name of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto due to whom today's parliament and the political system exists." Recalling his political career, he said: "I consider myself as very unfortunate, thinking that the leader with whom I started my political journey is no more with us in this world and this was her desire to restore a real democracy in the country."
Moreover, Rabbani said this was also a historic day in the sense that after 1973, for the first time, the Parliament was going to pass the recommendations of the committee, constituted through its own motion, while in the past, the parliament used to stamp the Legal Framework Orders, adding that these reforms would undo all the wrongdoings of the dictators who had violated the constitution.
"It is unfortunate that dictators had deformed the Constitution and tried to grab all powers just to prolong their rule. The 1973 Constitution gave birth to a Federal Parliamentary Islamic Democracy, but dictators turned it into a unitary form of government," he added.
Rabbani further said that the committee had received over 800 recommendations from minority members, civil society organisations and other institutions and deliberated upon them, but it was not possible to accommodate all of them. "I thank Allah Almighty that after the last speech of the President of Pakistan, the Speaker constituted the committee and it worked day and night for the last nine months and succeeded in the accomplishment of the given task," he remarked.
He further said that the passage of the 18th Amendment bill from Parliament would be meaningless and federation would again be under threat if it was not implemented in letter and spirit. "This is a bill of hope. This is a bill of people's emancipation. This is a bill of a federal Pakistan. This is a bill where rights of provinces are guaranteed. This is a bill where share and resources of provinces are ensured. This is a bill, which ensures fundamental rights. This is s bill, which ensures Parliamentary supremacy.
This is a bill which gives birth to new experience, an experience of hope, an experience of expectations, experience deliverance, an experience of fulfilment, an experience from where raptures a message of Pakistan, a vibrant Pakistan, a Pakistan where the strength of provinces is strength of federation, a Pakistan where all provinces are equal," said Rabbani in his concluding remarks.
Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza and Chairman Senate Dr Farooq H Naik congratulated both the houses on the presentation of the historical bill in National Assembly and Senate. Dr Fehmida said that she congratulated all the political forces, who played a responsible role. The nation would receive a positive gesture once the bill is passed.
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