No country can progress without accountability: Rabbani

Naimat Khan

KARACHI: Chairman Senator Mian Raza Rabbani has said that no society or country can progress without accountability, which should not only be impartial but across the board as well.

While talking to media after a seminar here in Karachi on Saturday, Rabbani said that every institution including judiciary, executive and legislature should work within their constitutional limits “We need to have strict and impartial accountability then this should be across the board”.

Rabbani said that the state institutions should not overstep their constitutional limits.

Rabbani said that implementation of the 18th amendment will become impossible due to unconstitutional moves. “Currently nothing is going right in the country,” the Senate chairman said.

He added that constitution should be followed letter and spirit as its supreme over all the institutions. Rabbani lamented that a dictator – Gen (R) Musharraf – ran away from the country, the state could not bring him to justice, and it’s unfortunate to see him commenting on the national politics from abroad.

Responding over a question, asking his comments on the accountability hearings of Sharif family, Rabbani said that he can’t comment on the matter because of his position as Senate Chairman.

Raza Rabbani ruled out any civil-military confrontation, but said nothing good was happening in the current situation.

He said amendments were introduced to prevent martial laws in the country while case was also made against Pervez Musharraf but the state couldn’t take it to court. Stressing the need for national dialogue between state institutions, Rabbani said he had called for dialogue with judiciary and military bureaucracy in Quetta. “I had said if a law is made, it should be applicable to everyone”

He said the country’s constitution was supreme and every institution should work within their limits without interfering with each other’s functions. He said there was no provision in the constitution that allows technocrat government.

Commenting on the issue of accountability, the Senate Chairman said the process of accountability has been clearly defined in the country’s constitution. “No country and society can function without justice

Calling for across the board accountability, the senior politician said “if we have to ensure accountability, it should be for all, it can’t happen if some institutions say they are answerable under their own system”.

Responding to a question, he said the next general election should be held on time. Commenting on country campaign against terrorism he said the armed forces have achieved significant success in several operations.