In the darkness of the night, the question arose – should one sneak into the GHQ or meet with a political leader? Should one sit in court and push the agenda of a political party or instead, in broad daylight, submit to the supremacy of the Constitution and Parliament and let the Parliament take its course? Without a doubt, the latter is a thousand times, perhaps infinitely better.
The cover of darkness may offer a cloak of invisibility, but it does not cloak the wrongdoings that may occur. The shadows do not hide the ulterior motives that may be at play. On the other hand, openness and transparency are the foundations of democracy. When the halls of Parliament are open and the sun is shining, the actions of our leaders are brought to light and are subject to scrutiny. The transparency of the democratic process is what gives people faith in their leaders and in their government.
In the courts, the rule of law is meant to be upheld, but when politics becomes entangled in the judiciary, justice is often compromised. The judiciary must remain independent of political interference. It is important that political parties do not hijack the courts for their own purposes. Instead, they should work within the democratic process, which includes the oversight of Parliament.
Parliament is where the voices of the people are heard, and where decisions are made in the open, in the light of day. It is where debates and discussions are held, where ideas are shared and challenged, and where laws are made. The parliamentary system is a beacon of democracy, a system that has stood the test of time and has been adopted by nations around the world. J Qazi Faez Esa holding up the constitution and speaking in parliament to the applause of a coalition government that is hell-bent upon subverting it.
