Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani has stressed the need for intra-institution dialogue to sort-out issues in an amicable way.
Talking to a private TV channel, he said, “Every institution should work within its constitutional limits.”
About the question of more provinces in the country, he said, “Personally, I am not in favor of more provinces,” and added that in the 1973 constitution the Upper House (Senate) was constituted to safeguard the interests of smaller federating units and representation of smaller and regional political parties in the house of federation (Senate).
About the rights of small provinces, he said Council of Common Interest was constituted under the 18th amendment, where all four chief ministers were given power to formulate and regulate polices.
He said that one meeting of CCI was made mandatory every 90 days for discussions on important national issues.
Replying to question, Raza Rabbani opposed direct elections of senators, as it would be against the concept and spirit of the 1973 constitution. He said that the presidential system was tried in the past but it failed to deliver.
He said that country was facing difficulties because the country was passing through a transition period. He said that politicians should have the moral courage to accept mistakes they made in the past.
He said that corruption was a major problem in the country and stressed the need to take effective measures to eliminate this menace.
The Senate chairman said that a judicial commission should be constituted to investigate major incidents of terrorism in the country.
He said that the solution to all problems lies in the continuity of the democratic system and strengthening of institutions.
To a question, he said that local government was now a provincial subject and each province had been given power to make legislations in this regard.
