Session 9:Parliamentary System and Pakistan

A parliamentary system establishes a high degree of social and political awareness, universal education, and an advanced system of mass communication for speedy and accurate dissemination of information on a wide variety of themes of individual and general interests. In the absence of these pre-requisites, people cannot be expected to exercise their right of vote in the context of broad national policies. Educated people with enlightened approaches are the first condition for the success of parliamentary system. An opposition of the same caliber must be there to watch the administration as well as to provide alternative government. There should be a vigilant press for the support of the Government on the merits of issues and to expose its weakness whenever desirable.

Unfortunately Pakistan lacked the requisites for a successful parliament. In this country we had a limited parliamentary experience. A strong executive authority persistently influenced the parliamentary system. The government and the Governor-General always held special powers. In a parliamentary set up the Legislature has to sustain and control the executive but Parliament in Pakistan was not allowed to function independently. It could never survive from its subservient position, and always felt that it was only an interim body. The story of the parliamentary era would have been different if the Legislature could attain its proper place in Pakistan. Cabinets were frequently installed and removed with no regard to the Legislature. A parliamentary system demands educated, and enlightened voters, which unfortunately this country lacked at the very early time and the same deficiency persists even today.Moreover the political chaos gave chances for the non-political forces to establish strong. To rectify them the country must first be taken to sanity by a peaceful revolution, then there should be a team of patriotic persons to examine problems in the political field and devise constitutions more suitable to the genius of the Muslim people. When it is ready at appropriate time it should be submitted to the referendum of the people so that the progress can be made.