Denunciations are not enough
April 10 being the day when the Constitution was approved by the Natonal Assembly in 1973, Nawaz Sharif underlined the importance of the basic law for protecting fundamental rights of all citizens. The same day, both sides in the Senate unanimously denounced military rulers who intervened in the political process in violation of the constitution. Referring to the way Pervez Musharraf was helped to escape from the country while still facing trial, a Senator bewailed that this would not have happened if all state institutions had submitted to the Constitution.
The politicians are welcome to condemn the military adventurists for staging military coups and for putting the constitution in abeyance or beating it out of shape. Condemnations or constitutional provisions alone will not however deter Bonapartists from pursuing their aims. Unless political parties are seen by the people to have brought about concrete changes for the better in their economic and social life, the parties will remain paper tigers despite their claims of big mandates which are in fact no more than electoral victories won through a minority of total votes.
As things stand politicians are gaining notoriety for amassing wealth abroad through sheer corruption. Every ruling party has ignored to perform its constitutional duties and thus shown scant respect for the constitution. Didn’t PPP, PML-N and PTI avoid holding LG polls till forced by the Supreme Court? Didn’t they do the same in the case of census? Aren’t these parties still unwilling to transfer administrative and financial powers to the grass roots? As time passes election expenses continue to mount thus turning the National Assembly into a millionaires club, where members enjoy perks and privileges that the common man can only envy. Instead of relying on the masses the parties prefer to hob nob with those who matter
The Parliament has allowed several Zia era distortions to remain in the constitution simply because it lacks the courage. Unless political parties are seen by the people as genuinely responsive to their deeply felt concerns the elected governments, the system and the constitution will remain vulnerable.
