News
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
20th Amendment will ensure free, fair elections: Gilani* Prime minister vows to take more steps to strengthen democracy
* Says Balochistan issue very serious, needs collective wisdom for solution
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday said that the 20th Constitutional Amendment would ensure free, fair and transparent elections and an independent Election Commission.
Congratulating the parliamentarians and nation after the passage of the amendment, the prime minister said, “The amendment is another feather in the cap, it has increased dignity of parliament and strengthened democracy.”
He said that more steps would be taken to strengthen democracy in the country.
The prime minister said that the issue of Balochistan was ‘very serious’ and the government was ready to discuss this important issue in the National Assembly, Senate, joint session of parliament or through an All-Parties Conference (APC).
He said when the 1956 constitution was passed, the lawmakers of that Constituent Assembly went bare-footed to mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam to show that they respected founder of the nation in his life and after his death.
The prime minister added that soon after that legislation, the dictator distorted the constitution.
Gilani said after the passage of 18th, 19th and 20th Amendment, the 1973 constitution had been restored to its original form and spirit.
He said the amendment would also ensure that the interim government would not be headed by an “imported prime minister”, but a prime minister who is from the House and had the support of 180 million people.
He said the 20th Amendment had been designed as a futuristic strategy to benefit the generations to come and to meet the requirement of holding free and fair elections.
“We have suffered badly because of the lacuna and in the past elections under caretaker set-ups were not considered free and fair,” he added.
He said after the fall of Dhaka, 128-member unicameral House of West Pakistan wrote a unanimous constitution. Pakistan remained intact because of the 1973 Constitution and “we have to make the constitution strong and effective,” he added.
He said now parliament comprises 442 members. The Senate, which was created through the 1973 Constitution, was for the protection of smaller provinces which felt a sense of deprivation.
The architects of the constitution devised that any amendment in the constitution would be made through a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament, he said, adding that no change can be made in the constitution without consultation of provinces which have equal representation in the Senate. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk