By: Assadullah Seehar
To address the negative factors that are distorting the shape of democracy, such as corruption and floor-crossing, where there is a growing trend for constitutional reform around the world. In Pakistan so far this issue has not been able to go beyond a single slogan. In these circumstances, it is natural for many problems to arise. Before coming to power, political parties promised to implement the law of show of hands instead of secret ballot in the Senate elections, but later this slogan was suppressed and the situation is as it is today. Now, with the announcement by the PTI government to hold the elections a month earlier in March next year, it has been decided that all action will be taken through show of hands. Although opposition parties are in favor of the show of hands formula, they are pushing for the issue to be resolved by Parliament through a constitutional amendment instead of the Supreme Court. Regardless of what the PDM loses or gains from this situation and what the government’s interests are, the way things are being talked about for and against it is a matter of tension. Opposition groups called for the beleagured PM to resign, but said that maintaining some independence was not the answer.
Is. Maulana Fazlur Rehman had made it clear last week that he would consult constitutional experts to influence the Senate Electoral College, but the government’s decision to hold elections in February may not give the opposition a chance to do all this while the show of hands. The procedure will help bring the names of voters to light, which will prevent horse trading, and the government has decided to approach the Supreme Court, but the opposition is calling the strategy unconstitutional. Maryam Nawaz raised the objection in a press conference on Thursday that the decision on holding, schedule and other by-elections of any national election is the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan and it is not permissible for the government to interfere in it. If the government has to do all this, it will have to amend the constitution. If the government does not do so, we will turn to constitutional experts. PPP central leader and former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani has also clarified the condition of constitutional amendment for holding elections through show of hands. The forthcoming elections to fill the 52 seats in the upper house that fell vacant on March 12 are significant in that the opposition has more seats in the current house than the government benches, making it more difficult for the PTI government to pass laws. May face. The PTI is definitely looking forward to this election so that its members can get a majority in the House and all the pending bills can be passed. Of course, in a democracy there are differences of opinion and the parliament is the most suitable platform where consensus can be reached on constitutional issues. In the presence of this scope, spreading anarchy in the state is by no means wise. The country is undergoing an evolutionary process of democracy, the fulfillment of which requires prudence, tolerance and politeness in politics. Corruption has become ingrained in our system. Unemployment, inflation, rising social crime are all caused by this situation. The Senate is the most respected house in the country which is also elected by the elected representatives of the nation. Whether it is the National Assembly or the Senate, their pride as a nation is the responsibility of every individual.