A countrywide poll has claimed that around 65 per cent of Pakistanis believe a local government (LG) system is the only solution to extricate the country from the current myriad of issues.
According to the opinion poll conducted by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) that gauged citizens’ views on the quality of democracy upon completion of the first year of national and provincial assemblies, 71 per cent respondents said LG elections were important. Around 65 per cent said holding of LG polls was the only solution to solve peoples’ problems locally while only 27 per cent were of the opinion that LG elections were not important.
The survey was conducted between July 16 and August 6 across the country.
According to the survey, a majority of the population was optimistic about the democratic system with 33 per cent reposed confidence in political parties, 26 per cent in the independence of media and 13 per cent in the quality of democracy.
The survey says that the holistic indicators measured the public’s level of satisfaction as well as their assessment of how well democracy was functioning in the country.
“This positive attitude is reflective of the growing and deep thinking people have begun to attach with the democratic system,” it stated.
The survey puts the effectiveness of bureaucracy at 21 per cent, respect for human rights at 16 per cent, sovereignty 13 per cent, effectiveness of the federal cabinet at eight per cent, delegation of powers to provinces at eight per cent, constitutional supremacy and civil-military relation s at three per cent.
A total of 3,065 citizens in rural and urban areas of the four provinces were surveyed through face-to-face interactions at their homes.
The survey states that 67 per cent of the population believed that democratically elected governments were good for Pakistan, while only 19 per cent favoured army rule. Around 63 per cent of them believe the 2013 elections were transparent and fair, while 37 per cent opined that the elections were rigged.
Around 85 per cent favoured to reform the Election Commission of Pakistan and 67 per cent favoured electoral reforms.
The survey says that while the majority the people favoured democracy, they still wish to see improvement on the operational aspect of governance.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2014.
COMMENTS (6)
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@Timorlane: What makes you think that the people who get elected to the local bodies will not be thieves?
even higher judiciary denying the L.B since 2008 by extension after extension
@freed: People now want peace and peaceful sleep, that's why people are home.
@freed: 90 % people do not want to listen songs and see dancing ladies at DHARNA in islamabad.
people also want to stay home and expect corrupt politician to give them this. How ironic.
But all the thieves now overtly united in the defence of "democracy" have been denying people since 2008 their right of having their elected local governments in order to keep all the funds in their hands to steal them easily.