SC sets deadline for local government elections to be held by December 7- provinces still unprepared.
These elections would be the first since the local system was devolved to the provinces themselves. Previously, the provinces were functioning under a central federally-constructed system. While the delays on the part of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) are technical, the real setbacks have come due to the lack of laws and rules. While Punjab had passed its local government bill, it is yet to act on fresh delimitations – a crucial exercise for the polls. Sindh, too, is in a similar position – except the provincial government still continues to tweak its laws – the most recent amendments coming on Thursday. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has just passed its local government bill as of Thursday.
Political rivalries have also played their part in hamstringing efforts to put in place local government systems: the Punjab system, put in place by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has been challenged by opposition parties Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). In Sindh, the PPP is in power, and has also had its local government act challenged by the opposition Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). Lastly, PTI, in power in K-P, also faces a threat of seeing its recently-passed bill taken to court. It is only once these laws are in the clear that the rules will be framed on the basis of which the polls will take place. The delimitation process is also still under way, and the ECP has to then draw new districts and localities to account for all the newly registered voters and municipalities that have grown since local government elections were last held in 2005. The delimitations from 2005 are untenable because the current powers say that it involved gerrymandering by then military strongman President Gen Pervez Musharraf. To demonstrate the size of ECP’s task, they have to account for an addition of 38,000 census blocks to the voting lists of 2005. This is apart from logistical hurdles such as enough paper not being available for the ballots or printing the ballots on time.
DATE
When the elections are supposed to be held.
K-P
No date announced. LG bill passed on Oct 31
PUNJAB
Dates to be announced after demilitation. SC wanted polls on Dec 7
BALOCHISTAN
December 7
SINDH
Dates to be announced after delimitation. SC wanted polls on Nov 27
NON PARTY – PARTY
The constitution has left it up to the provinces to decide whether they want local candidates to contest the elections on a party ticket or independently. Here is how the provinces have decided
K-P
Upper bodies on party-basis. Lower councils on non-party basis.
PUNJAB
Elections on non-party basis
BALOCHISTAN
Elections on party basis
SINDH
Elections on party basis
RESERVATIONS
Constitutionally, all elected councils are required reserved seating for minorities. Each province has decided to organize its reservations differently .
K-P
PUNJAB
BALOCHISTAN
Reservations for non-muslims will be proportional to the population of non-muslims in the area, the bill states.
SINDH
STATUS OF BILL
Most provinces are still contending with legal issues regarding the bill. Here is a summary of bill’s current legal status
K-P
Opposition parties have promised to challenge the PTI-sponsored bill.
PUNJAB
PPP & PTI have challenged the Punjab Local Govt Bill in Lahore High Court.
BALOCHISTAN
On track
SINDH
MQM has challenged the Sindh Local Govt Bill in Supreme Court.
PARTY POSITION
The following is an overview regarding the major political parties, and their positions regarding various aspects of the local government elections, ranging from the bills passed to their state of preparedness
PML-N
PML-N has stated that it is against party-based elections, and that it will not get in to a coalition with opposition parties. It shall focus on Sindh and KPK.
PTI
PTI has expressed anger at the Punjab Local Government bill. “It goes against article 17, states participation of political parties has been ensured,” said PTI Punjab President Ejaz Chaudhry. They will focus on Punjab, KPK, Karachi, Badin, and Umarkot.
PPP
PPP supports party-based elections. It has stated that it is organized, mobilized, and ready for elections. It will try to build coalitions in different provinces. It has challenged the local government bill passed in Punjab in the Lahore High Court.
ANP
ANP has said that it needs 4 to 6 weeks for preparation. It is unhappy with the proposed bill currently being tabled in the KP parliament. It has called for the ability for non-muslims to run for general seats. It also demands direct elections for reserved seats.
MQM
MQM has expressed its readiness, and does not want a delay in polls. It supports elections on party basis. It will contest in all provinces and also Gilgit-Baltistan. ECP and current ruling government responsible for elections.
*TO HIGHLIGHT THE LACK OF PREPAREDNESS, THE FIGURE FOR THIS YEAR’S ELECTIONS HAVE NOT EVEN BEEN FILED YET.
All these figures from 2005 are subject to substantial increase, and indicate how these elections are even more difficult to organize than this year’s parliamentary elections.
2005
Total Number of Voters 63.4 m
Total numbers of Union Councils 6,132
Total Number of Polling Stations 62,483
Total number of nominations filed by candidates 266,427
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2013.
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