Devolution: PTI to push for early holding of local elections

PTI won’t accept devolution of power formula introduced by former president General (retd) Musharraf, says Chaudhry

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) plans on demanding local government elections on party basis.

The party will also ask the government to hold the elections “as early as possible” to ensure devolution of power to the people, says the party’s Punjab president, Ejaz Chaudhry.

“We won’t allow the government to delay local government elections because we believe local governments are democracy’s nurseries,” Chaudhry said.

The party plans on setting up Local Bodies Committees at the district level, which will prepare an election plan, search for ‘good candidates’ and hold meetings to ensure that the message of the party reaches the public.

Chaudhry told The Express Tribune that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf will contact politicians “from all political parties” who have previously served at the local council level and will ask them to join the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

The provincial committee members will visit all districts from June 8 to review the recent general elections and discuss the strategy for upcoming local governments’ elections.

The party’s district presidents will then present detailed and comprehensive reports that will focus on short comings of the party’s campaign and rigging in their districts, if any.

“The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf won’t accept the devolution of power formula introduced by former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. It would demand that the village and union council system be strengthened,” said the Punjab president.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2013.