ISLAMABAD - Out-going Senate Deputy Chairman Mir Jan Mohammad Jamali Thursday stressed the need for the constitution of ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’ on the pattern of South Africa to expose all the wrongdoings of the politicians, generals and bureaucrats and end the grievances of masses.
“If Truth and Reconciliation Commission could be formed in South Africa, then why not in Pakistan,” he said, adding that people should be exposed for their wrongdoings during 1999 to 2008.
“Who sold Pakistan - politicians, generals or bureaucrats -it should be exposed,” he noted and asked why the politicians alone were being blamed for all the ills. He also said every institution would have to be made to act within its ambit.
Jamali, while delivering a fare-well speech, also suggested direct election for the Senate, saying it would save the members of the Upper House from the corruption charges and horse-trading. He deplored that despite efforts during his stint as the deputy chairman, he failed to change the method of elections for the Senate.
Humorous and witty, Jamali said he was going back to field politics after retiring from the Senate though the ground realities in Balochistan were not favourable due to the law and order situation.
He said the Balochistan issue would not be resolved without addressing the issue of the missing persons and mutilated bodies, adding that they would have to talk with the Baloch leaders with love and affection. He also opined to give equal shares to provinces in jobs and resources in order to deal with the current situation in Balochistan. He also urged the political parties to allocate 33 per cent tickets to women in general elections.
Jamali said basically he was a romantic parliamentarian and added that he now understood the difference between the state and the anti-state elements. He said former Indus Water Commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali Shah should be summoned in the Senate to expose who sold the country’s water and seek his explanation. “Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, the leader of ANP, was branded as anti-state element in the past and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Nawab Akbar Bugti were assassinated,” he lamented.
Senator Ismail Buledi in his remarks endorsed Jamali’s views on Balochistan.
Advisor on Finance Dr Abdul Hafiz Shaikh appreciated the services of Farooq H Naek as the Senate chairman and said he would be remembered for his professionalism and judgment.
PML-N leader Raja Zafar-ul-Haq said money was involved in the elections at all levels and the direct or indirect polls for Senate would not matter. He said the political parties should nominate and send upright workers to the house to avoid the situation.
Senator Jahangir Badr also praised Naek for taking into confidence the both sides of the house on all issues. He said the politics was a science of experience and the chairman had proved that he was not biased.
SM Zafar said the Chairman had protected the rights of opposition as well. “However, despite the passage of many landmark legislations from the house, the poverty and deprivation of the people of Pakistan could not be minimised,” he remarked.
He stressed the need for protecting the national sovereignty and brought the attention of the house towards the worsening human rights condition in the country.
Maulana Gul Naseeb viewed that expenditures being incurred on the security establishment were the major hurdle in making Pakistan a welfare state, before the house was adjourned to meet again today (Friday) at 10am.
The house unanimously amended and passed the proposed Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate. Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, who heads the Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges, said the amendments would enhance the honour and dignity of the house and strengthen the standing committees.
The lawmakers from all the parliamentary parties commended the work of the committee and termed it a remarkable achievement.
Zahid Khan of ANP said the amendments would increase the oversight role of committees, which was earlier limited to recommendatory only.
The house also unanimously passed the Delimitation of Constituencies (Amendment) Bill 2011 to amend the Delimitation of Constituencies Act 1974 and the Special Economic Zones Bill 2012, which will provide for setting up and operation of special economic zones in Pakistan.