Constitutional guarantee, vital for broad-based consensus among political stakeholders, institutions: President

ISLAMABAD, Mar 9 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain on Friday said constitutional guarantee was important in ensuring broad-based consensus among political stakeholders and national institutions for the stability of system.
Addressing at the farewell of the retired Senators on completion of their term, the President said parliament was an important body in maintaining functioning of the State, for defining the direction of government and for keeping an eye on performance of institutions.
President Mamnoon said all institutions of the State were answerable and accountable to the Parliament and emphasized on accelerating the process of consultation among stakeholders of political system and the relevant national institutions.
The said the consultative process needed to be given constitutional cover to foster democratic system in the country in line with the Constitution and also in accordance with the aspirations of people.
He called upon the parliamentarians to take up the matter on emergency basis in the
interest of the nation so that the history remembers them in good words.
The President said the recent election of Senate was an important milestone, however
regretted the suspicion cast by some politicians over the process, which he said was a
matter of concern.
He said due care and caution should be observed while giving statements on the issues
of national importance and instead of creating controversy, the matter should be handled
responsibly.
President Mamnoon said in view of bitter experience in the past, the sensitivity regarding
the continuity of democratic process was understandable. He said ignorance of political norms
had resulted in the ongoing disturbance and in this regard, great responsibility lied on politicians
and parliamentarians.
He said bench and opposition were the two pillars of the system and stressed for following
the basics of democracy to ensure smooth functioning of the government.
He called upon all political parties to shun their mutual differences in the best interest of
democracy and contribute to strengthening of the system.
The President expressed satisfaction that the Senate Secretariat had compiled its activities
in the form of book and proposed to translate it from English to Urdu edition for benefiting maximum
of people.
He lauded the services of Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani for strengthening of
democracy and expressed hope that the retired Senators would continue with their positive
efforts.
Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq,
Deputy Chairman Senate Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Leader of the House in Senate
Raja Zafarul Haq and Leader of the Opposition Aitezaz Ahsan also spoke on the occasion.