Power struggle : LG representatives call for empowering local bodies

Seminar turns into session where representatives expressed their grievances

KARACHI: The elected representatives of local bodies cried foul over the crippling local government (LG) system and sought help to execute authority in their constituencies during a seminar at Chief Minister (CM) House on Saturday.

The seminar, which was organised by the LG department and presided over by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, was attended by the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of local councils, Karachi deputy mayor and others. Councilors, union council (UC) and district council chairperson from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) expressed their concern that they cannot work since they have no authority to appoint employees or budget to ply vehicles.





During the seminar, the LG representatives belonging to various districts of Sindh had one unanimous demand about financial powers. "Who will release the salaries to employees in our council? It is not yet clear and we get all the funds from the provincial government," said Dost Ali, a UC chairman from District Dadu. Addressing the audience, LG minister Jam Khan Shoro clarified the government's viewpoint about such powers and said, "Only those powers can be given to you that are enshrined in the LG law".

The seminar, which was organised to educate the LG representatives about the issues of local bodies, turned into a session where almost all the representatives expressed their grievances. "The law has been passed and elections held but the rules are not yet prescribed, which can give us a clear idea about the rules and responsibilities," said a participant of the seminar. Responding to this, a member of the LG, Sono Khan Baloch, said that the rules will be provided to all representatives soon. "You have the authority to appoint peons and watchmen," he added.



Referring to the former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf's LG system, the CM said, "The military dictator introduced a system to divide the people and rule them, which also caused differences between institutions". The CM claimed that he is taking necessary steps to strengthen the local bodies, so that public issues can be resolved at grassroots levels. "The LG department's mandate is to provide support to the local councils in areas of administration, finance and human resource management," he added.

He said that there was strong opposition to hold local bodies’ elections in the city. “No doubt the law and order situation was precarious at that time, certain socio-political issues had emerged,” he said and added that the political commitment and will of the Pakistan Peoples Party government in Sindh ensured that the elections were held. Shah added that the Local Government Act, 2013 has been passed by the Sindh Assembly and there is public will and wisdom in it.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2016