Power transfer: Delay in election of mayors, chairpersons criticised

PML-N criticised for dilly-dallying on devolution of power to local government

RAWALPINDI: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was criticised for dilly-dallying in transfer of powers to the local government, by opposition leaders at a seminar here on Tuesday.

Political leaders criticised the delay in election of mayors of cities and chairpersons of district councils in the province.

The seminar was organised by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) at the Rawalpindi Press Club.

Participants from the PML-N, however, tried to defend their leaders and the delay in completion of the LG system.

SSDO Executive-Director Syed Kausar Abbas noted that the City District Government Rawalpindi had failed to pass its annual budget.

He said delay in passing the district level budget would further delay disbursement of development funds.

The delay could lead to lapse of annual development funds, Abbas underlined.

He said that the development funds needed to be given to the yet to be elected mayors for city municipal corporations and chairpersons of the district councils.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Asif Mehmood said delay in elections for city mayors and district council chairpersons showed undemocratic mindset of the PML-N leaders.

Mehmood added that the PML-N government and the local administration of Rawalpindi never consulted six elected MPAs of the PTI, while making major decisions about the city.

He said the Punjab government preferred bureaucracy over elected representatives for running affairs of the district administrations.

The PML-N MPA, Zaibunnisa, while defending her party said legal battles in courts was a major hurdle in elections of mayors and district chairpersons.

She said that the issues at the grassroots level were being addressed through the MPAs and the MNAs in Rawalpindi.

Another PML-N MPA Tehseen Fawad said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had clearly stated that the election process of city mayors and district council chairpersons would be completed within one month.

Jamat-e-Islami (JI) leader Rizwan Ahmed said the PML-N top leaders were not ready to share their powers with locally elected representatives.

He noted that the ruling party needed to amend Cantonments Act of 1924 to give more powers to the elected representatives.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2016.