How feasible is the idea of a SAARC parliament?

How feasible is the idea? The idea of a parliament for the South Asian region is not very new although some quarters feel that the concept is premature and unlikely to take shape in the near future. Those promoting the idea of the South Asian concept also do not foresee the emergence of this parliament in the immediate future, but what they stress is that it should be pursued and should come through at an appropriate time even though it may take quite some time -- may be several years. Some, who see this as a distant possibility, say that this may take even a decade because of the complexities involved in the matter, but what is important is that the ball must be set rolling and a South Asian parliament should become a reality one day.

The idea is being coined largely in line with the European parliament notwithstanding the fact that Europe and South Asia are not similar. On the contrary, two are different in many ways, on the top the European political and economic advancement being far ahead of the South Asian and this helped there being a continental parliament there. True, South Asia is not a continent as such, but it is the most populous region of the world having more than one fifth of the mankind.

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The region is coming up in discussions at global scale for some time past, particularly with the emergence of the regional forum SAARC twenty years ago. As SAARC is becoming a known forum, albeit some criticisms about its slow progress in achieving the objectives, the concept of the South Asian parliament is also coming increasingly to the fore. Admittedly, only few see this as a viable possibility in the immediate future. However, this view has not deterred the concept being advanced by different quarters associated with the region. The promoters of the concept concede that such a parliament is handicapped on several grounds, but insist that this can be floated taking into account the distinct features of the region.

They agree that the political maturity of Europe and the broad similarity among countries there on matters of their policies and approaches on global issues helped the European parliament come into being and this in somewhat sharp contrast is lacking in the South Asian region. Nations of this area in many cases do not see eye to eye on the global issues and what is more unfavourable is that rivalry and enmity among some members of the region at bilateral level makes the feasibility of the parliament here difficult. Then again the promoters argue that when this has become a reality elsewhere then the South Asian parliament will also be the same belying skepticism that persists in certain quarters. The idea is being followed up by the promoters of the concept and it appears that it is gaining greater acceptance. It is being emphasised that further research and well knit ground work are required with a view to giving the idea a sound shape for eventual setting up of the South Asian parliament.

The high profile conference of the parliamentarians of the South Asian countries in Pakistan dwelt with the matter in great detail when the whole issue came for discussion in varying degrees analysing the pros and cons of the concept from different angles without being unnecessarily euphoric about it.

From India, Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), CPM and CPI to regional parties like Rastriya Janata Party of Bihar to Telegu Desam of southern Andhra Pradesh and National Conference of Jammu and Kashmir, who have representation in the federal parliament, attended it. Host Pakistan had similar representation including lawmakers from ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Quaiid-e-Azam) to opposition People's Party and Muslim League (Nawaz). Also were the parliamentarians from the six-party Islamic alliance MNA and the largely Karachi based MQM. From Bangladesh, twelve lawmakers -- five from ruling BNP, four from main opposition Awami League, one each from Jamaat-e-Islami and Jatiya Party and one independent member took part in the conference. Same was the case with Sri Lanka but while there is no functioning parliament at present in Nepal, their delegation chose not to attend as one of their colleagues was not allowed to leave the airport. However, media, civil rights activists and others came from Nepal.

Needless to say, two other small nations within the SAARC family -- Bhutan and the Maldives -- seem not much in the reckoning as far as the regional parliament is concerned for obvious reasons.

The parliamentarians during the long discussions -- mainly on the basis of two keynote papers presented by two experts -- deliberated on the nitty gritty of the issue and adopted resolution in this regard. The Conference overwhelmingly endorsed the view to initiate a process of moving towards the creation of an institutional interactive mechanism for parliamentarians of South Asia keeping in mind the concept of a South Asian Parliament (SAP).

A full-fledged SAP may take a decade or two, but it is time for initiative moves in that direction, the parliamentarians agreed. To begin with, the conference proposed creation of an intra-parliamentary union in South Asia. SAARC may agree in principle to create a South Asian Parliament and appoint a group of experts responsible to the SAARC Speakers Forum to prepare a comprehensive report and timeframe to establish it through an evolutionary process.

One of the main papers on the issue was presented by Dr (Professor) SD Muni of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, in which he broadly espoused the cause of the South Asian parliament and detailed the concept including how it should be viewed as viable and, more importantly, representative for all the member nations so that none considers it a dominant platform of the big countries, notably India. He made plenty of research on the subject, recollecting how it has come to the fore as well as drawing analogy of course with the European parliament. Dr Muni's conclusive remark is that it is possible and the concept should be pursued from now on. However, he is not euphoric as he is also aware of the problems and obstacles that may stand in the way, but the bottom line is that this should emerge for the larger interest and identity of the region.

However, the second paper on the matter by Pakistan's noted parliamentarian and thinker Aitzaz Ahsan was not as enthusiastic although he broadly supported the concept of the SAP. A lawyer by profession, the Pakistan People's Party lawmaker sounded caution in forwarding the concept in haste as he felt this requires sufficient ground work and other preparations. He says that nothing born or conceived prematurely can be sustained. "The ground is not ready for the SAP as yet" he says, but endorses it in the long run.

The Conference witnessed lengthy discussions on the issue and members were divided as to whether the process should start immediately or not, but all were unanimous on the need of the SAP. Most of the members were of the opinion in line with Dr S D Muni although they stressed on the caution of Mr Ahsan as well. Indian communist MP Nilotpal Basu was particularly in favour of the position taken by Mr Ahsan while most others favoured immediate initiatives. Finally the conference came out with agreed resolution to ensure greater role of the elected representatives of the people in regional cooperation. The participants overwhelmingly endorsed the view to initiate a process of moving towards the creation of a South Asian Parliament with, of course, caution taking into account the pros and cons of its creation in stages.

In any case, the issue of South Asian parliament is gaining prominence albeit the impression and belief that it is unlikely to emerge soon. But the SAP is now being talked about in responsible and important quarters and as such it can be a reality some day. And this, when occurs, will certainly be a great leap forward for the region, home of more than 1.4 billion people.

Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury is Foreign Editor of BSS.