Senate-Foundation Day

(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th August, 2016) Federal Minister Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bazinjo said democratic institutions should highlight the circumstances in which the Upper House of the Parliament was established. He welcomed the former Chairmen, Deputy Chairmen Senate and former senators for attending celebrations of the Foundation Day of the Senate. He said the Constitution of 1973 was the biggest gift to the nation since the foundation of the country in 1947.

After promulgation of the Constitution Pakistan emerged as democratic country in true meaning. He gave this credit to the former leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for the 1973 Constitution. Mir Hasil underlined the importance to further empower the senate where like National Assembly to make the country true federation. Mushahid Hussain Sayed paid tribute to former Chairmen, Deputy Chairmen and senators for playing their role for strengthening democracy in the country. Senator Talha Mehmood said it was our responsibility to make sincere efforts to strengthen the democracy in the country.

He said this was a good omen that all provinces have equal representation in the Upper House of the Parliament. He paid homage to former members of the Senate and its chairmen for playing a constructive role to strengthen democratic system. Senator Tahir Mashhadi said "things will be in good shape when functions of institutions will be in accordance to Constitution and Rule of Law." He, however, expressed concern over the various social evils like child marriages and child disappearances in different part of the country. The government should give importance to the democratic institutions of the country to achieve the real fruit of democracy, he said.

Senator Usman Khan Kakar said Senate should be empowered like National Assembly to address several challenges being faced by the country particularly the terrorism. He said the country was witnessing weak foreign and internal policy, saying that controlled democracy was not in favour of Pakistan.

He said the former regimes of dictatorships had given irreparable loss to the nation. The FATA reforms issue, he said, should be addressed in accordance of the wishes of FATA people. Ilyas Bilour said it was a good sign that the ruling party had accepted the participation of Senators in Public Accounts Committee (PAC), saying that it will strengthen institutions. He said the 18th amendment in Constitution should be implemented in letter and spirit to empower the provinces. Senator Siraj ul Haq said efforts should be made to create such environment where every city of the country should have the equal opportunity to move forward. Public must be provided education and health facilities, he said, saying that equal distribution of all resources should be ensured to make the country a welfare state. He said country can not be developed and prosperous without addressing the basic issues of the public and implementing the ideology of Pakistan. Senator Jahanzeb Jamaldini said gender discrimination and sectarianism should be discouraged and social justice and equality should be ensured in the society. Senator Shibli Faraz said both houses of the Parliament should implement the rule of law, accountability and ensure social justice to make the democracy successful. Senator Saeed Ghani said the senate had much importance in current democratic system.

Former political forces had paid their responsibilities for introducing Senate and Constitution of 1973. He said unfortunately this forum could not be used properly due to discontinuity of democracy and negligence of politicians. All stakeholders, he said, should remove their differences and get united to put the country on path to prosperity. Senator Hadayat Ullah said on the occasion of Founding Day of the Senate, the House should analyze the performance of the Senate. He said collective efforts should be made to further empower the Upper House of the Parliament, saying that democratic tools should be used to address the issues of the public.