ali JafferHas the Parlimentary system failed in pakistan
November 2nd 2007 13:33
The simple answer to the question is “No”. The reason for this response is also simple; until March of this year Pakistan has never tried the parliamentary system. Pakistan instead has tried to avoid parliamentary supremacy through almost every device known to political scientists. The so called vice regal system military authorization presidential supremacy and prime ministerial autocracy, with variants on some of these.
It is best to look at what a “parliamentary system” means and then to note how Pakistan has avoided its use in its governance. At root a parliamentary system includes the right of the people to select in free and fair election their representatives to a body what will be able to enact laws under a constitutional arrangement that enables those representatives to act in the interests of the people at the large as they perceive them. These representatives are to be selected for a set term after which they must face the electorate again in a free and fair election that will decide their retention in or their dismissal from office. The system also presumes that the representatives are to be elected for a set term after which they must face the electoral again in a free and fair election that will decide their retention in or their dismissal from office. The system also presumes that the representatives will come from roughly equally sized constituency. Weather a “first past the post” system is used, as is the case in Great Britain, the United States, and all three countries that have emerged from the British Indian Empire, or a proportional representation system us use or any variant or either a regular and accurate census is necessary. This too, Pakistan has avoided since 1981 although all indicators show a substantial shift from rural to urban areas.
It goes without saying that the actions of the parliament and especially of its members must be transparent. It and they are in the position of “ethics committee” by whatever name that is compose of members of all parties and that has the duty to inevitably undermine the standing of parliament among the people.
Finally a parliament system produces a cabinet that is charged with governing the country. It receives a vote of confidence from the parliament, usually the lower and directly elected house that gives it the authority to govern. On major decisions the agreement of the full cabinet can be expected, while on less important actions the decision may be made the minister in charge of the particular department concerned. This is not to say that the civil and military bureaucracies have no role to play, but their role should be limited to recommendation and implementation. The cabinet under the prime minister must take the lead in decision making for it is they alone who are responsible to the electorate.
It is best to look at what a “parliamentary system” means and then to note how Pakistan has avoided its use in its governance. At root a parliamentary system includes the right of the people to select in free and fair election their representatives to a body what will be able to enact laws under a constitutional arrangement that enables those representatives to act in the interests of the people at the large as they perceive them. These representatives are to be selected for a set term after which they must face the electorate again in a free and fair election that will decide their retention in or their dismissal from office. The system also presumes that the representatives are to be elected for a set term after which they must face the electoral again in a free and fair election that will decide their retention in or their dismissal from office. The system also presumes that the representatives will come from roughly equally sized constituency. Weather a “first past the post” system is used, as is the case in Great Britain, the United States, and all three countries that have emerged from the British Indian Empire, or a proportional representation system us use or any variant or either a regular and accurate census is necessary. This too, Pakistan has avoided since 1981 although all indicators show a substantial shift from rural to urban areas.
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