People’s representatives

Nominations for Parliamentary elections are round the corner. All political parties are finalizing their nomination lists. Prospective candidates are busy harnessing support. It is time opportune to reflect on the nature of Parliamentarians, their duties and obligations and the track record of those who have been lucky enough to be Members of Parliament.

Parliament is the highest body that makes laws. It is the supreme legislature of the country. It enshrines in itself the sovereignty of the people expressed at periodic elections.

It is natural to expect that such an august body as the Parliament or the supreme legislature should comprise of persons of highest integrity, morality and commitment to serve the public. While academic excellence is not a requirement, Parliamentarians should have sufficient experience and political acumen to be able to decide upon affairs of state.

We have had the example of humble persons with relatively less education developing and performing as worthy Parliamentarians contributing to the advancement of the country and the people. At the same time there were also relatively better learned gentlemen who hardly took part in debates in Parliament.

Membership in Parliament should not be construed as a means of self aggrandizement or building up one’s own self image. It is an opportunity to serve the people with dedication and commitment. It is a social contract given by the electorate on trust. The trust of the electorate is the highest wealth of a Parliamentarian.

The reality unfortunately is not always like that. We have seen politicians who used to visit even the humblest man on the street in his ramshackle house during elections and promising thousand and one things to better the poor man’s life completely ignoring him and even pretending not to know him after becoming a Parliamentarian. Humbleness and simplicity before elections are supplanted by ostentation and arrogance after being elected.

Further, there are numerous instances when the elected had used his office for self aggrandizement at the expense of the people. Contemptible also is the tendency shown by some politicians to name public utilities built at public expense named after them as if their private funds were used on them.

Parliament is a hallowed institution. It should peruse each and every bill or resolution that comes before it with seriousness and solemnity it deserves. Unfortunately there has been a tendency of late to rush through important bills expeditiously without providing adequate time to consider the pros and cons of their implementation. The 17th Amendment to the Constitution is a case in point. Even the Elections Commissioner recently commented on its impracticability.

The elderly generation still nostalgically recalls the excellent and rich debates that were held in Parliament in the days of yore where the Parliamentarians, both of the Government and the Opposition stand tall in comparison with their present day counterparts. There were brilliant orators with erudition and humour who enlivened the entire House with their contributions even any most complicated subjects. It is a sad reflection on the members when it is said that the present day debates cannot be listened to by schoolchildren from the gallery due to the un-parliamentary language used. Very often even the tenor of speaking is similar to that at an election rally which excludes serious study and debate.

Several Parliaments had also seen the cross-over of several politicians from both sides of the House on grounds that gave rise to allegations of buying over. This is an unhealthy tradition which not only is an insult to the intelligence of the voters but also a breach of the trust placed by them.

The political parties that are finalizing their lists of nominations should give serious considerations to select persons with integrity and high moral calibre from their parties. Academicians, professionals as well as young and enthusiastic politicians should comprise the nomination lists so as to ensure a relatively better equipped Parliament after the elections.

As promised by many parties the next Parliament will be in most probability deliberating on Constitutional reform. It will also have to engage in numerous legislations facilitating rapid development of the country. The need of the hour is a Parliament equal to these tasks.