PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD: A constitution amendment bill seeking constitutional cover for the implementation of the local government system across the country was submitted in the Senate on Tuesday.
“Due to lack of constitutional cover for the local government and non-availability of the system, some provinces, federal capital and cantonment areas have been deprived of LG elections,” said Independent Senator Mohsin Khan Leghari, who submitted the bill.
According to the copy of the bill available with The Express Tribune, the title of the bill is “Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2015. The bill seeks to further amend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Read: Senate session: Govt to table amended LG bill for Islamabad today
The bill demands to give constitutional cover to the local government system in Islamabad capital territory (ICT) and cantonments just like the provinces.
It further demands that the residents of the ICT and the cantonments be able to enjoy their constitutional rights of devolution of political, administrative and financial authority from their local elected representatives, similar to the residents of provinces.
According to the bill, the constitutional cover to the local government system will put an end to the discrimination against the residents of ICT and cantonments.
The bill, if approved, is likely to come into force immediately.
Read: ICT LG bill: Supreme Court seeks update on pending legislation
The contents of the bill proposed that Article 140A (1) of the constitution to be substituted by the following, “The federal government and each province shall, by law, establish a local government system and devolve political, administrative and financial responsibility and authority to elected representatives of the local governments, in Islamabad capital territory (ICT) and cantonments, and each of the provinces respectively.”
Earlier, the Supreme Court sought an update from the government on the status of the legislation on local government system in the federal capital.
A three-judge bench headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja had directed the government attorney to inform the court on Tuesday on the status of the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Bill 2015 bill pending in the Senate.
Read: Senate rules against LG polls in Islamabad
Later, Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani gave a ruling against holding of local bodies’ elections in the federal capital under Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Bill 2015, which, he said, had not yet become a law.
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