ISLAMABAD: The Parliament has potential to dictate the terms of reference not only for the national security but also the ability to tackle the serious foreign policy issues confronting by the country.
Chairman Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani said this while addressing a training program for third batch of short term interns of Senate of Pakistan at Pakistan Institution of Parliamentary Service (PIPS), here on Thursday, said a press release issued here.
He said those thinking that the Parliament was not an effective institution had their own vested interests adding they were not willing to transfer powers to the democratic institutions.
Chairman Senate said effective measures had been taken for improving the working of Parliament with regard to its role in legislation, oversighting executive and transparency.
He said the democracy could not flourish without passing hurdles and obstacle with commitment and resolve.
He said the people were denied the fruits of democracy for long adding whatever the cost, the new generation would not face these issues.
In struggle of democratic rule and supremacy of Parliament, we could not afford to lose, he added.
Rabbani said people were tortured, women were dragged on roads and dishonored for their struggle for the rule of law.
He observed that usually it was believed that the parliaments could not tackle the issues of national security and foreign policy but the event of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) yesterday had contradicted such assumptions as more than 70 delegates and parliamentarians of the Asian nations had gathered to discuss such issues and agreeing with consensus on these matters.
He said that this successful parliamentary diplomacy had been conducted after the sabotage of SAARC Conference by India scheduled to be held in Islamabad few months ago.
The APA event was attended by the high level parliamentary delegations of Asian countries including India and Nepal, whereas the Speaker of the Bhutan led the delegation for this event.
The Chairman said that it was the Parliamentary Committee on National Security which in consultation with the stakeholders framed the new term of engagement with United States in aftermath of Usama Bin Laden issue.
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