History of Parliamentary Struggle
Perceptions Vs Facts
On August 12, 1947, two days before its official birth, the First Constituent Assembly of Pakistan formed a 16 member committee “on fundamental rights of citizens and minorities of Pakistan”. That committee was supposed to advise the assembly regarding the fundamental rights of citizens of Pakistan and guide it on matters relating to minorities. Being the first committee, it must be considered as a vital step taken in constitution-making by none other but the President of the assembly, Muhammad Ali Jinnah who was also heading that committee himself.
What happened to the ‘Committee on fundamental rights of citizens and minorities of Pakistan’ is an interesting story. Yet its report was part of the first draft of the proposed constitution presented in the assembly in mid-1950 (May 1950). The sudden rejection of the draft proved self-destructive for Liaquat Ali Khan who was depending on the civil-military bureaucracy. The First Constituent Assembly could not make the constitution for seven years and members of the newly elected provincial assemblies had no liaison with it. So its death, when it came in 1955, was not mourned.
What happened to the ‘Committee on fundamental rights of citizens and minorities of Pakistan’ is an interesting story. Yet its report was part of the first draft of the proposed constitution presented in the assembly in mid-1950 (May 1950). The sudden rejection of the draft proved self-destructive for Liaquat Ali Khan who was depending on the civil-military bureaucracy. The First Constituent Assembly could not make the constitution for seven years and members of the newly elected provincial assemblies had no liaison with it. So its death, when it came in 1955, was not mourned.
Defaming politicians, over-centralisation in the disguise of local bodies and compromise on federalism and parliamentary form of government were the bad policies of the Ayub era, and up until Musharraf’s times both secular and Islamist dictators have used these mantras extensively.
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Fortunately, all parliamentary debates are available online since 10th August 1947 to date (http://www.na.gov.pk/en/debates.php). We can even read the debates regarding defence spending in the session on April 4, 1956. Digitisation of the assembly record for public use is the most important progressive step taken in Pakistan since its birth.
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