Provinces ‘bound’ to give powers to LGs

NA panel seeks comments on amendment to Article 140A

ISLAMABAD:

A sub-committee of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice on Tuesday sought opinion from the provinces regarding amendments to Article 140A of the Constitution, which was related to the local government.

The sub-committee met with its convener Mahmood Bashir Virk in the chair. The meeting deliberated on the issue of amending Article 140A. Chairing the meeting, Virk said that the Constitution already “obliges the provinces to give powers” to the local governments.

On the occasion, sub-committee member Nafisa Shah pointed out that every province had its own law regarding local government. “The four provinces have separate systems of local government,” the lawmaker told the participants.

“We will make a law that does not contradict the provinces,” she added, but stressed: “Only after consulting the provincial governments and the Election Commission, can we proceed with this amendment.”

Javed Hasnain said that the constitutional amendment should make it mandatory for the provinces to give powers to the local governments within 60 days. “The purpose of the amendment is to ensure that provincial governments hold local elections within 60 days after the end of their term,” he added.

The meeting was informed that the provinces, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, had not yet held the local elections despite the expiration of their term. Kishwar Zahra said that in the past, local bodies elections were not held in Sindh for seven and a half years.

Attending the meeting, officials of the law ministry said that even a single-day delay in holding the local elections was unconstitutional. Under the Constitution, they said, the provincial governments were required to hold local elections on time.

Punishment for violating the Constitution by not holding the local elections was also stipulated in the Constitution, the committee heard. The sub-committee then sought views of the four provinces on the amendment to Article 140A of the Constitution.