HRCP moot demands more accessible, robust parliament
LAHORE: Parliament should find ways to increase contact with the people and must have a greater say in approval of official policies and in signing and ratification of international agreements, a seminar organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) concluded on Friday.
Participants of the event, entitled “Parliament’s Functions and its Supremacy”, included parliamentarians, representatives of political parties and members of the civil society. The meeting agreed that the parliament derived its powers from the constitution and represents the will of the people, and its authority to amend the constitution must not be taken away on the basis of any contentious theory, such as basic features of the constitution. The participants expressed concern that the crucial role of parliamentary standing committees in pushing forward legislation, and in vigilance and oversight on behalf of parliament has been compromised on account of nomination of standing committees’ heads on the basis of party affiliation alone or as a means to reward allies, rather than on the basis of ability or relevant experience.
The participants said that one way of asserting parliament’s supremacy in legislation was by abandoning the preference of ruling through ordinances. They expressed concern over lack of parliament’s say in official policies and in signing and ratification of international agreements. They stressed on the need for political parties to introduce more democratic and decentralised approaches in their internal affairs.
Source: Daily Times
Date:10/16/2010
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