Advisor to Prime Minister Senator Mian Raza Rabbani on Saturday called upon the government to take back the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) from the private owner, saying that the management of the utility failed to fulfil its responsibility. He opined that provision to re-nationalise the utility is available in the law.
Addressing a reception organised in his honour by Pakistan National Textile Leather Garments Workers Federation, All Pakistan Trade Union Congress and All Pakistan Federation of Labour, Rabbani said with passage of the 18th Amendment, matters related to the constitution have been settled and the government should now pay full attention to resolution of the problems of people.
He called upon the government to resolve the three major problems, including inflation, unemployment and electricity load shedding. He congratulated the labourers, workers and political activists on approval of the 18th Amendment. The Amendment would strengthen the judiciary, protect fundamental rights, including provision of education and freedom of press and right of fair trial.
Senator Rabbani paid rich tribute to 26 members of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms and heads of political parties for their co-operation and role in the passage of the 18th Amendment. He said amending the constitution was a regular practice throughout the world but this process took place in Pakistan after a period of 30 years. He said after the Parliament of 1973, the present Parliament is the only one, which has made constitutional amendments.
The Senator who was Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms, noted that not a single vote was cast in the Senate or in the National Assembly against the 18th Amendment. He said the matter of provincial autonomy has to some extent been resolved through the 18th Amendment and now the provinces along with the federation, are also owner of their resources, which is an important progress.
The names of two dictators have also been eliminated forever from the Constitution, he added. Senator Rabbani said ,"the labourers spin the wheel of country's economy". He said the annulment of the section 27-B of the Banking Companies Ordinance is the promise of the President, the Prime Minister and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. He said the approval of the 18th Amendment is the largest national consensus after the 1973 Constitution.
The Advisor opined that in the prevailing political situation the development of national consensus was the only way to end polarisation among the federation and the provinces. Earlier, General Secretary, PPP Karachi Division, Saeed Ghani said Mian Raza Rabbani led the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms, which annulled anti-labour laws.
He said the Constitutional Reforms Committee also restored the 1973 Constitution, in its original form. Speaking on the occasion, Senior Labour leader, Habibuddin Junaidi said the labourers believed that the ruling party (Pakistan Peoples Party) would resolve their problems.
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