“Parliament is the nucleus of power” says Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf

Islamabad, May 10, 2023 (PPI-OT): Pakistan is hosting a two-day international constitutional convention at Parliament House of Pakistan where speakers, deputy speakers, constitutionalists and representatives from different walks of life from more than 17 countries gathered to join golden Jubilee Celebrations of the constitution of Pakistan.

Speaker National Assembly while addressing the inaugural session said that “Parliament is the nucleus of power, author of constitution and sole legislative organ of the state”.

He further said that parliament represent and mirror the will of the people hence all the state institutions are answerable to the parliament. The speaker further apprised the delegates about the struggles, efforts involved while paving the way towards the constitution of 1973.

He also lamented that constitutional and political process was hampered by multiple episodes of dictatorships. He added, “Our first democratically elected Prime minister and founder of constitution Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was sent to gallows where constitution was kept into abeyance or tempered.”

While highlighting the importance of 18th amendment, he said that it restored original spirit of the constitution but ensured complete provincial autonomy envisioned by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he said , ” We have to yet ensure complete fulfilment of article 26, article 3, 25 and 25-A of the constitution and eliminate gaps in promise and performance.” The speaker further said that he believes in the quote of her leader Shaheed Mohterma Benazir Bhutto that “democracy in not a product but a continuous process”.

He further added that it encapsulates the building blocks of democracy including free and impartial media, women’s participation, transparent elections and impartial judiciary. 1973 constitution promised these building blocks of democracy to achieve the goal of an ideal Islamic, federal parliamentary democracy.

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