Parliamentary System and Framing of the 1973 Constitution: Contest between Government and Opposition inside the National Assembly

It is generally believed that the Constitution of 1973 was passed unanimously by the parliament of Pakistan and was equally acceptable for all the federating units. While studying the processes of the approval of the said constitution inside the assembly, it becomes evident that the reality was quite different. There exists an argument that most of the Opposition members were not allowed to join the parliament’s session while the final approval of the constitution was processed. The present paper is an effort to analyse the developments that took place inside the National Assembly to pass this document which was to serve as the fundamental document of the state system in forthcoming years. In other words, the present article analyses the course of action through which the Constitution was framed. This is an analytical study primarily based on the National Assembly debates supported by the secondary sources, biographies, and autobiographies of the contemporary politicians to understand how far the amendments suggested by the then opposition were accommodated by the ruling party. Furthermore, this paper analyses the reasons for which each government has to amend the basic structure of the constitution to make it more practical and acceptable for its units. For instance the Eighteenth Amendment removed the concurrent list of the constitution but now the following governments are facing issues to implement the Amendment in detail.

Effect of Various Grain Storage Structures and Temperature Stress on Seed Quality and Germinability of Different Wheat Varieties

Grains are among the most important staple food and Pakistan has made a significant advance in increasing grain yield through the introduction of high yielding genotypes including new packages of production technologies. However, care is to be taken for storage conditions and storage periods for maintaining nutritive values, seed viability and vigor. This study therefore was conducted to determine how storage sources, storage periods and temperature regimes affect physical and chemical properties, and germinability traits of seeds of various wheat varieties. Laboratory experiments were conducted at Department of Agronomy, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan, located at (25o25’60’N 68o31’60’E) during 2008 and 2009. The study on seed quality assessment of different wheat varieties in various seed storage structures consisted of five wheat varieties (Moomal- 2000, TJ- 83, Imdad-2005, Abadgar-93 and Mehran-89), five storage sources (Jute bags kept under open sky covered with plastic, jute bags kept in closed storage, plastic bags kept in closed storage, earthen silos, and iron bins), and two storage durations (90 and180 days). The maximum seed index was observed for Imdad-2005 stored in iron bins. Seed moisture content was also higher in Moomal-2000 stored in iron bins, however, germination was superior in Moomal-2000 stored in earthen silos, and or plastic and jute bags kept in closed storage, or under open sky covered with plastic sheets. Higher protein content was found in Moomal-2000, TJ-83, Mehran-89 and Imdad-2005 stored in jute bags kept in closed storage or under open sky covered with plastic sheets. Wet gluten was greater in seeds of Mehran-89 and Abadgar-93 stored in jute bags kept in closed storage or under open sky covered with plastic sheets. Starch and ash contents were better in Moomal-2000 stored in jute bags kept under open sky covered with plastic sheets or in iron bins. Lipid content and falling number were more in TJ-83 stored in all types of storage sources. EC was higher in seed of Moomal-2000 stored in all types of storages. The seed N accumulation was more in TJ-83 and Mehran-89 stored in jute bags kept under open sky covered with plastic sheets or kept in closed storage, whereas, seed P and K contents were superior in Moomal-2000 stored in various storage sources. Minimum seed index was observed in variety TJ-83 stored in any type of storage source, moisture content in Mehran-89 kept in jute bags placed in open sky. However, lowest germination, protein and wet gluten percentage were recorded in variety Abadgar-93 stored in iron bins and jute bags stored in closed stores respectively, starch in Abadgar-93 stored in plastic bags, ash in TJ-83 kept in jute bags (covered with plastic sheets) and lipids in Mehran-89 stored in iron bins. The lower EC and falling number were noted in Mehran-89 and Abadgar-93 stored in jute bags and placed under open sky covered with plastic sheets and closed stores.The study on effect of different temperature regimes on the germinability of different wheat varieties revealed highest germination in Abadgar-93 kept at 30oC, shoot length in Moomal-2000 and Mehran-89 was higher when kept at 20 and 30oC, respectively. Root length, fresh shoot weight, fresh root weight, and dry root weight were recorded higher in variety Mehran-89 kept at 30oC. Seed vigor index is the concept where evaluation is made on the germination percentage and seedling growth within first 6-7 days and variety Mehran-89 proved more vigorous than rest of varieties. It is concluded that all the wheat varieties were found suitable for milling, bread, chapatti and yeast leavened bread containing adequate protein, starch, ash, wet gluten, lipids etc. The information obtained in this study is useful for researchers, farmers, millers, bakers and daily cereal users for the selection of suitable variety. Regarding storage sources, iron bins are recommended for seed storage for maintaining physico-chemical properties other than seed purpose. For the seed purpose, earthen silos, and or plastic and jute bags kept in closed storage, or under open sky covered with plastic sheets are appropriate seed storage sources. It is further recommended that temperature ranging between 20 and 30oC is the optimum temperature regime for wheat seed germination and related traits.