Law and Justice Minister Mirza Gholam Hafiz on Tuesday night expressed his firm conviction that the country's reversion to parliamentary democracy after long 16 years of the presidential form of government would bring about political stability, and usher in an era of prosperity, reports BSS.

Delivering his winding-up speech in the Jatiya Sangsad Parliament at the end of an eight-day discussion on the Constitution Amendment Bills, the Law Minister said the passage of the two nationally significant bills would also facilitate the establishment of the rule of law and the improvement of the administration. This in turn would help restore peace and discipline in society.

Mirza Golam Hafiz, whose speech was repeatedly greeted by thunderous applause of the members of the House, said the constitution of a country must reflect its socio-economic condition, aspirations of the people and its objective geo-political situation. Our Constitution should be such as would mirror the objective condition of the country and yearnings of the people, he added.

Paying his respect to MPs, he said the legislators of this Sangsad got the rare opportunity and privilege of changing the constitution through which the country would switch over to the parliamentary system of government. An opportunity like this rarely came to legislators in the whole span of their life, he opined.

The law Minister told the Sangsad he had accepted three amendments from the opposition members to the 12th Constitution Amendment Bill.

He said, moving amendments to the bill some mem-bcra spoke in favour of election of technocrats Included In the cabinet, some favoured secret voting on the election of the

President of the republic, some demanded more powers for the Prime Minister while some others pleaded for curtailment.

Yet some members opposed the provision of referendum after the adoption of the major constitution amendment bins.

Workers' Party leader Rashed Khan Menon even went to the extent of saying that referendum would under line our sovereignty, he added.

Disagreeing with Menon, the Law Minister said the people were the source of power while the Sangsad enjoyed legal sovereignty the real sovereignty belonged to the people.

Legal sovereignty of the Sangsad was changeable, but the people's sovereignty was not. Again while the sovereignty of the Sangsad was limited that of people's sovereignty unlimited, he said.

Defending the provision of the referendum, he said it was In vogue In many countries including the Philippines, Turkey. South Korea, and Australia.

Tracing the constitution of many countries of the world, the Law Minister said in no country of the world unalloyed democracy existed. Even the Westminster type of democracy has too many complexities. he observed.

He said today's was the most momentous occasion lr^< the history of our country. The whole world was looking forward to us eagerly to see how we fared In switching over to parliamentary democracy, he added

The Law Minister, who looked cheerful and hearty and whose witty remarks drew cheers from the members, held out the solemn assurance that If any part of the constitution did not work well it would definitely be amended.