The Supreme Court of Pakistan. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The top court has summoned all provincial chief secretaries and local government secretaries over the inordinate delay in the functioning of local government system. The officials have been directed to submit comprehensive reports on steps taken to empower local bodies in their respective provinces.
On Friday, the three-judge apex court bench, headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, resumed hearing of a contempt petition filed against the prime minister for disobeying the court’s orders on holding LG polls in cantonment areas of the country.
Petitioner Raja Rab Nawaz contended the premier disobeyed the court’s orders with mala fide intentions.
The applicant requested the bench to issue contempt notice to the PM for violating its orders related to the empowerment of local governments. He stated not a single paisa had been given to the representatives of local governments in Balochistan till now.
Chief Justice Jamali observed that everyone knew how the system was being mocked in the name of democracy.
Justice Khilji Arif Hussain asked the petitioner to assist the court in identifying political parties after reading their manifestos which vowed to set up local governments in the country.
The bench observed that despite giving clear directions twice, provincial governments had not filed replies on functioning of local governments.
Additional Advocate General Razzaq A Mirza told the bench the Punjab government submitted its reply, mentioning the elections of chairman and deputy district councils were delayed because the election process was challenged in Lahore High Court. The bench, however, summoned all chief secretaries as well as local government secretaries in the third week of April.
On the last date of hearing, the CJP had remarked the recently elected local governments should not serve as “mere showpieces”.
LG polls in Sindh and Punjab were held in December last year. The local bodies have still not started functioning.
Legal experts say the provincial governments have not given any meaningful political, administrative or financial powers to LG representatives. The recently elected LG representatives will have to approach the superior courts to obtain powers.
“Though the provinces gave in to the persistence of the Supreme Court and organised the LG polls, they have given a toothless system,” believes lawyer Chaudhry Faisal Hussain.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2016.
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