ISLAMABAD: The Golden Jubilee Convention of the 1973 Constitution on Monday, pledging to “preserve, protect and defend” the Constitution in letter and spirit, called upon state organs to take all necessary measures to ensure its full implementation and safeguard the rights and interests of the people of Pakistan, while calling the Constitution a living document.
The resolution presented by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and unanimously adopted by the Convention held here at the National Assembly Hall, emphasized the importance of upholding the principles of federalism as one of the fundamental tenets of the Constitution.
Before reading out the resolution, the prime minister paid tribute to the framers of the 1973 Constitution who set aside their political differences and got united for sake of the country – an achievement to be remembered forever.
Calling April 10, 1973 an important day in the country’s history, he said despite multiple amendments made from time to time, the Constitution was still a living document.
Attended by the parliamentarians from both Houses of the parliament, legal and constitutional experts, educationists, and prominent figures from different fields of life, the Convention also declared April 10, 2023, as the National Constitution Day, “to be celebrated each year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of 1973 and to educate the people of Pakistan about the Constitution and its significance for the country.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz said the Day also reminded the nation as how in 1955, the doctrine of necessity was invented and how a chief justice of that time gave a three-year extension to a dictator. Similarly, he said the Constitution was re-written from time to time.
The prime minister also recalled that a year ago, the coalition parties formed their government through a constitutional process despite numerous challenges inherited from the previous government.
He said that for the country’s sake, the coalition government took up the challenges and were putting in collective wisdom to steer the country out of tough conditions.
He said though the allied parties would go into election on their respective manifestoes, while being part of the coalition government, they were united to save the country.
He saluted the framers of the Constitution, congratulated the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms headed by Senator Raza Rabbani and also National Assembly Speaker for holding the Convention to celebrate the 50 years of the 1973 Constitution which kept the whole nation united despite ethnic and political diversities.
The Convention reiterated that the Constitution of 1973 was adopted on April 10, 1973, by the National Assembly of Pakistan, representing the will and aspirations of the people of Pakistan which reflected the vision of the founding fathers of Pakistan and embodied the principles of democracy, equality, freedom, and justice. ‑APP
