Govt urged to hold LG polls in province

LAHORE: Speakers at a convention have urged the Punjab government to hold LG polls in the province at the earliest.

Though local govt is the third tier of government, but it is first tier of democracy and democracy is incomplete without meaningful representation of people in local institutions. For the last five years local govt is absent in the province and bureaucracy is running the show. This is a clear violation of article 140-A of the constitution. Three provinces; Sindh, KPK and Balochistan and even Azad Kashmir have elected LG system now, however, people of Punjab are still deprived of their constitutional right to elected local governance. The govt of Punjab should hold LG polls without further delay in the province, these views were expressed by the speakers at a convention ‘Local Govt Elections in Punjab and Devolution of Powers’ organised by Women in Struggle for Empowerment (WISE) here on Monday.

Over 300 women activists, ex-councillors and members of different LG networks from different districts including Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Okara, Khanewal, Kasur, Gujranwala and Lahore joined the event. Speaking on the occasion, Executive Director, WISE, Bushra Khaliq said the local govts are functioning in three provinces; Sindh, KPK and Balochistan, however, people of Punjab are still deprived of their constitutional right to have an elected local government. Without their effective participation there is no concept of democracy at grassroots level, she opined, adding that future of democracy in Pakistan lies in strong system of local governance.

Zahid Islam, Executive Director Sangat Development Foundation, emphasised on the citizens’ participation in the affairs of local governance. Pakistan and particularly Punjab need a strong local govt system because of a dangerous phenomenon of rapid urbanisation coupled with highest population growth rate (2.8%) in South Asia. Under these circumstances, it is impossible for the provincial govt to address these vital issues without an effective local govt. The majority of everyday issues a common man faces are related to local govts. It is imperative to hold LG elections in Punjab at earliest, he said.

Salman Abid, IDEA Executive Director, said people are fed up and crying for an effected and elected local govt system. He highlighted the need for the initiation of national level political discourse on local govt system. He said political parties and even state has never been sincere to establish a sustainable local govt system in the country.

There is no accountability of the provincial govts. For persistently using delaying tactics to avoid LG system in provinces, he lamented, adding that constitutional protection of the local govt in provinces is a must.

For the continuity of the system, there should be a consensus among provinces on a common framework of action guaranteed by the federal govt, he said. Qazi Mobin, constitutional lawyer and expert local governance, said the LG system has become hostage to the whims of the rival political parties. ‘The present political powers are not interested in holding LG polls as it does not suit them to accommodate citizens’ participation at any level of governance. If we look at the manifestos of these parties, we find nothing about local govts. This is unfortunate that Punjab is running without LG system since long and without any alternative campaign to encourage citizens’ participation,’ he said.

Shoaib Ahmed, representative of Local Govt & Community Development Department - Punjab, said provincial govt is administratively overburdened due to the absence of local govts in Punjab.

Devolution fiscal, administrative and political powers are very important, he said, adding that the Punjab Assembly committee on Local govt is working on the various options of amendments in PLGA2022 and fresh legislation as well. Ahson Kamray of Opportunity Club demanded increase in the reserve seats of youth in the new LG law under consideration. Athar Abbas, representative of provincial Election Commission, said there is paramount need to develop consensus among political parties about the continuity of local govts and delimitation on permanent basis.