ISLAMABAD - Stressing the need for strengthening of democratic institutions, Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani yesterday said that implementation of constitution in true letter and spirit would ultimately ensure rule of law in the country.
Chairman Senate expressed these views while addressing a seminar on “Challenges to the Federation and role of the Senate”, held here in connection with the 44th Senate Foundation Day.
He said strengthening of democracy and democratic institutions would help make Pakistan a developed prosperous and peaceful country. He urged people to renew their pledge to work for a developed, prosperous and peaceful Pakistan as per vision of the Quaid-i-Azam.
He said strengthening of democracy and democratic institutions would help realise this objective.
He said the challenges and outstanding issues, being faced by the provinces, could not be ignored and everyone has to play proactive role. There is no need to re-start closed debates, he added.
“We must keep in mind that Pakistan is a multi-national state and we could not move forward unless we recognise their rights. Everyone has to accept and respect their identity,” he added.
He said the Senate, after a long struggle, has been able to get acceptance of its members’ entry into the Public Accounts Committee, which was necessary according to law.
He thanked the treasury benches for their support in this regard.
He called for taking sincere steps to bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots. He thanked the speakers for their valuable suggestions to improve the role of upper house of the parliament.
He said several issues are debatable and urged to have thorough discussion in the parliament.
Leader of the Opposition in Senate Aitzaz Ahsan said Senate has always played an active role in legislation and safeguarding rights of provinces.
PML-N Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan said Pakistan is an ideological country and the upper house is more vibrant today.
Former Chairman Senate Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, Leader of the Opposition, Senator Aitazaz Ahsan, Deputy Chairman Senate Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Speaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Asad Qaiser, Speaker Balochistan Assembly Rahila Hameed Khan Durrani, Senator Mushahid Ullah and Director Pakistan Study Centre, Dr Syed Jaffar Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.