President and PM felicitate people on Senate’s foundation day

ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in their separate messages on the occasion of Senate’s foundation day on August 6 said that Pakistan will flourish more when federating units have better representation at the federal level. This representation is well achieved in the House of Federation where all units have equal representation in terms of number and hence have more protection of their interests and rights. Senate of Pakistan has been successfully guarding the interests of all the federating units of Pakistan and a stronger House of Federation will ensure a stronger state of federal character. Mamnoon said that the Senate of Pakistan has been successfully guarding the interests of all the federating units of Pakistan and a stronger Upper House will ensure a stronger State of the Federal character. The Senate is a permanent House which symbolizes a process of continuity in the national affairs. The Foundation Day should be marked to reiterate the Senate’s commitment to work for the cause of unity among the federating units. In his message, the president said that the Senate has reaffirmed its role and commitment for upholding constitutional supremacy by playing a vibrant role within the ambit of the constitution. The 1973 Constitution gave voice to the long and arduous struggle of the nation for federalism and bi-cameral Parliament bringing the Senate of Pakistan into existence as a House of Federation, giving equal representation to the federating units. “I believe that the Senate of Pakistan understands the significance of the task for which it was formed and it will continue working for protecting the interests of both the smaller and larger units” he said. Abbasi extended felicitations to the people on the occasion. He said that the Upper House is an integral part of the Parliament of Pakistan and its role in legislative framework of the country by effectively guarding the rights of the federating units is highly praiseworthy. “Pakistan being a Federal State will flourish more when federating units have better representation at the federal level” the prime further said. Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani said that like many other countries equal powers must be granted to the Upper House so that it could effectively raise voice for the federating units when the matter comes to its rights, especially in Joint Sittings of the Parliament where in the given situation their voice is gagged in term of number game. In a message released in connection with the day, he said that over a period of time the Senate has emerged as a defender of the rights of the Federating Units and jealously guarded encroachments on the devolution of power to the Provinces. This continuous struggle triggered the evolution of Senate as a coequal House, wherein, after the Eighteenth Constitutional Amendment, the Senate of Pakistan has effective role and voice not only on the issues of provinces but also in the effective oversight of the executive. He observed that this is a proud day when the Senate celebrates its 45th Founding Day, it will be a prouder day when the bells of economic and political freedom ring louder from the halls of Parliament for the peoples of this great nation. Senate Deputy Chairman Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said that the system that best serves today’s democracy is federalism where each unit of the federation gets equal voice as a crucial one in policy making. Strengthening of the Upper House will lead to more equity among provinces and hence provide for equal representation. The commemoration of Foundation Day is not only a day of celebrations but it is also a day of commitment that this territorial chamber will continue to play its role. Leader of the House in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq and Leader of the Opposition in Senate Aitzaz Ahsan also felicitated the country on this day. Zafar said that keeping the needs for revisiting legislative competence and parliamentary oversight in view, Senate of Pakistan this year rose to the occasion and passed a resolution seeking amendments in 11 Articles of the constitution dealing with relationship of centre and provinces. Aitzaz Ahsan said that celebrating Senate’s 45th Foundation Day depicts a trail of history leading to the House of Federation, which today provides for blossoming of different cultures within the federation and playing an important role on promoting inter-provincial and federal-provincial harmony. He hoped that this day would spread a renewed vigour to uphold parliamentary and democratic principles.     Published in Daily Times, August 6th 2017.