ISLAMABAD: PPP leader Mian Raza Rabbani on Tuesday called for prioritising constitutionalism and the rule of law in the country.

“The new government, apart from the economy, should have constitutionalism and strengthening parliament high on its priorities,” Mr Rabbani said in a statement.

He regretted that during the tenure of the past government, the Constitution had been kept on the shelf and it was being violated by constitutional functionaries. He stressed that there should be zero tolerance for violation or circumvention of the Constitution.

The PPP leader said the prime minister would have to lead by example. “He [the prime minister] should not advise the president to promulgate ordinances under Article 89 of the Constitution, as it infringes on parliament’s right of legislation,” he said.

Mr Rabbani remained a vocal critic of the ‘rule through ordinances’ during the days of PTI government and had been expressing fears that attempts were being made under a preconceived plan to make parliament redundant.

He said the new government should realise that under Article 91(6) of the Constitution, it was answerable to both houses of parliament. “Therefore, it must ensure that all policy statements are made in parliament to keep it informed,” Mr Rabbani said.

“Parliament must be taken into confidence before any agreement is signed with the IMF or any other international financial institution,” he said.

The PPP leader said the Parliamentary Committee on National Security had a pivotal role to play and, therefore, it should be delinked from the office of the speaker in order to make it function as an independent committee.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2022