ISLAMABAD: During a debate on the alleged misuse of power by the state institution on Thursday, senators criticised the alleged involvement of the military establishment and the judiciary in the political affairs of the country.
Terming the matter “much more complicated than just an issue of imbalance in powers of the state institutions”, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Farhatullah Babar claimed, “The powers of the parliament, the judiciary and the civilian establishment were being shifted from Islamabad to Rawalpindi”.
Babar said that institutional dialogue between parliament, the military establishment and the judiciary are held across the world so as to avert a collision between the institutions. But in Pakistan “the powers had already been handed over to Rawalpindi” in some instances, he claimed.
The senator further said that “powers have been shifted to the people who consider themselves above the law, which is a matter of grave concern.”
Expressing dismay over the rejection of the new accountability law, he said: “The parliament missed the chance to bring everyone under the ambit of accountability, as it has now been decided to hold everyone accountable except the judges and generals.”
“I was disappointed that my own party stepped back from its demand of bringing everyone under the ambit of accountability.”
Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Senator Usman Kakar viewed that the civil-military bureaucracy was attacking parliament, while alleging that the judiciary has a bad record as “it had legalised the dictatorial governments [in past]”.
PPP Senator Taj Haider stressed the need to identify those who were weakening the democracy. “The parliament will have to try and bring an end to money laundering,” he said.
A Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senator, Saood Majeed, said “the third pillar of the state” had damaged the country most, adding that the judiciary had encroached upon the powers of the parliament.
If the government fails to discharge its responsibilities, “then space is open for some other institution to step forward to fill that gap. Instead of learning a lesson, we all are looking around,” he remarked.
PML-N Senator Jawed Abbasi alleged that the judiciary had enjoyed the powers of the executive following the campaign for the restoration of judges. He was of the view that attempts have been made in all tenures to curtail the powers of the parliament.
Balochistan National Party Senator Jehanzeb Jamaldini suggested that the heads of the judiciary and the army should be appointed after Senate’s.
MQM-P Senator Tahir Mashidi also alleged that the army plays an important in the politics of the country.