‘Lacunae in LG laws to be addressed soon’

New local govt system comes under fire in 10th MCL Assembly session

LAHORE: Lahore Mayor Colonel (retd) Mubashir Javed has underscored the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) and local governments in the province were subordinate bodies of the Punjab government and lacunas in LG laws would be addressed soon.

Addressing the 10th session of the MCL Assembly on Thursday, Javed said there may be some lacunas in the new local government systems but it should not be criticised as it was still passing through different stages of evolution.

“Instead of praising military ruler’s City District Government Lahore (CDGL), critics should team up to strengthen the current system which is approved through a democratic process,” Javed maintained.



“Those who are demanding powers and autonomy should read Punjab Local Government Act 2013 that was passed by the both government and opposition members of the provincial assembly,” he said.

“All members of the metropolitan assembly have strong faith in effectiveness of the new local government system. But those who believed in politics of agitation and allegation are trying to destabilise the democratic system by supporting dictatorship in the country. If they call themselves politicians, they should support democracy and development in the country,” the mayor stressed.



He highlighted that dictators did not allow the democratic system to strengthen in the country and ruled over four decades. Responding to opposition’s criticism, Javed said he accepted that the new system has created some problems but people should understand that main leadership of the PML-N was under great stress owing to court cases against them. The situation would have been improved if the ruling family was dragged in accountability and court cases.



“Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, is under medical treatment in London and her husband is facing court case in Pakistan. It is really unjustified that members of the Sharif family, who should be in London to take care of Sharif, are being summoned by courts,” he remarked.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2017.