Dr. Ashraf Choudhary welcomed the
opportunity to share his views at the PILDAT forum. Beginning his talk by
giving an introduction of his adopted homeland, New Zealand, Dr. Choudhary
said that known as the country of �long white cloud,� New Zealand has an
agriculture-based economy. A country of 4-million people and 40 million
sheep, Parliament in New Zealand is the master of its own destiny. New
Zealand has the longest democracy in the World and has celebrated its 150th
year of continued democracy this year. It is the first country of the world
which gave the right to vote to women in 1897. Population of New Zealand
comprises 70 % of British, European origin people; 15 % indigenous people, 7
% Asian including 120,000 Chinese, 80,000 Indians and Pakistanis while there
are 30,000 Muslims in that population. Rule of Law is supreme in the society
of New Zealand, added Dr. Choudhary, with the result that often one hears
that ministers and MPs are also caught and dealt with by law-enforcing
agencies if they are involved in breaking the law in any way.
Dr. Ashraf Choudhary explained that the basic role of Parliament in New
Zealand is legislation. About 100 pieces of legislation are passed by the
Parliament in a year. Legislation or bills are moved by the government
mostly, however, there is also a provision for Private Members� Bill for
back-benchers and the opposition MPs. Approximately 5 out of a 100 pieces of
legislations are generated through private members� initiatives and mainly
deal with morality or issues of ethics. New Zealand does not follow a
written constitution and legislation mainly consists of amendments into
earlier conventions and laws. He highlighted that in legislation, major
emphasis is placed on public input into bills which is invited from all over
the country when a bill is in committee stage. Select Committees seek
written or oral public opinion and views on a bill under scrutiny through
announcements and notices in the media. The process of public input spans
roughly over 6 months and 99 % of the bills are changed in the light of
public views and input before they are presented to the Parliament for
adoption. Throwing light on the role of caucus committee, one of which he
chairs, he said that bills are presented to the relevant caucus committee
before they are presented in the Parliament so as they are discussed keeping
in view the party�s ethos and MPs� thinking on those.
Throwing light on the research support and remuneration packages provided
to MPs in New Zealand, Dr. Choudhary said that being an MP is a full-time
job and hence compensation and remuneration packages take care of that
completely. Approximately NZ $ 145,000 a year are paid to each MP. In
addition a staff of two persons, one based at the MP�s office at Parliament
and one at his/her constituency are provided to MPs, appointed by MPs and
paid for by the Parliament. There is strict control on election spending and
candidates can not spend more than NZ $ 20,000 on his/her campaign. Labour
Party spent close to NZ $ 3 million in the previous elections, he added,
quipping that his personal spending on his election as MP was NZ $ 600 only.
There is also public funding for elections which is paid to political
parties on the basis of percentage of votes of each party in the previous
elections. Big businesses and lobbyists do not have a large role in
financing elections and instead parties like the Labour ask public for
regular donations and contributions to the party. Parliament has a term of
three (3) years while discussions continue in the society that this may be
increased to the term of four (4) years, he added.
In discussing New Zealand�s relations with Pakistan and the perception of
people about Pakistan as it exists there, he said that New Zealand is weary
of dealing with despotic and dictatorial regimes. People of Pakistan are
considered to be very smart and crafty and the perception in New Zealand is
that most of the trouble in this region originates from Pakistan. Government
of New Zealand also has a strict stance against nuclear proliferation.
Kashmir is considered a flashpoint in the region and we urge both Pakistan
and India to resolve this issue for the sake of prosperity of the people of
the two countries, he added. Answering a question about his country�s stance
over holding plebiscite in Kashmir, he replied that his government was what
he termed as �agnostic� about it although it generally follows UN�s stance
on issues, adding that it is difficult for other countries to push for a
stand when there is a movement away from it on the part of parties in a
conflict.
In response to another question of whether he and other legislators of
Pakistani origin would like to move forward and act as a mediatory between
military and political forces for a sustainable democracy in Pakistan, he
said that legislators of Pakistani origin in other countries were ready to
play such a role if they were asked to do so. He praised the role of PILDAT
in thinking of and creating an International Network of Legislators of
Pakistani Origin, of which he was a member, and said that the network will
be willing to help strengthen democracy in Pakistan. In addition legislators
of Pakistani origin were willing to share their expertise with Pakistani
legislators and the government on issues of mutual concern provided such a
need was felt in Pakistan. He believed that in order for new and young
legislators to perform their duties in a befitting manner, their technical
orientation and exposure to developed democracies and Parliaments was
needed. Such an exposure, especially in the area of parliamentary ethics,
could be made possible through close interaction of Pakistani legislators
with those of their counterparts in other Parliaments through week-long
study visits.
In answering a question about what is his recommendation about
strengthening democracy in the country, he believed that it was an issue
that needed to be tackled by the people of Pakistan. As long as people show
willingness in accepting dictatorial regimes, democracy will not flourish in
the country. New Zealand played its role internationally in encouraging the
growth of democracy in Pakistan however the onus lies on big international
powers and their preferences of whether they would like to deal with an
individual or a public democratic government in Pakistan.
Answering another query about his country�s stance on US invasion of
Kuwait, Dr. Ashraf Choudhary said that New Zealand considers pre-emptive
strikes and unilateral decisions to be immoral and unethical.
Discussing the role of women in New Zealand�s governance system in
response to a question about gender and governance, he said that New Zealand
is run by women; Prime Minister, Governor General, Attorney General, Chief
Justice are women and soon the Speaker of Parliament will also be a lady.
There is no discrimination in the name of gender, religion, sexuality or
culture in New Zealand, he said, adding that New Zealand is a country at
peace with itself. September 11 did not have a direct impact on New Zealand;
however some necessary anti-terrorism laws were introduced into the country.
Inter-faith dialogues also continue ensuring greater harmony into the
society, he said.
New Zealand only spends 1 % of its GDP on defence; military is mainly
contributing to international peacekeeping while there is virtually no air
force in New Zealand, he responded to a query. There is absolutely no
influence of military or any other agency or force over Parliament or
governance structures. In fact no western democracy runs under the influence
of military which, like any other institution, is democratically controlled,
contrary to public perception in Pakistan, he said.
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