ECP made this demand in response to the govt’s refusal to make the arrangements itself. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The ECP made this demand in response to the provincial government’s refusal to make the arrangements itself as ordered by the commission on November 6.
The Punjab government refused to arrange the local body elections, saying it is the commission’s responsibility.
The task of organising the elections includes compiling voters’ lists and printing of millions of ballot papers.
Local elections
Deadlines set by the Supreme Court late last month to hold local government elections in three provinces by no later than December 7 have brought to light how unprepared the provinces are on this front.
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 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. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has just passed its local government bill.
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.
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It is about time the Supreme Court and put everyone in place and let ECP come up with a realistic schedule for the entire country and be given the authority to run free and fair elections - not let the provincial governments dictate the unrealitic dates and running them as they wish.
It is important for the people to know that the Constitution of Pakistan requires holding of the Local Bodies' elections. Any public official refusing to uphold and implement the Constitution is guilty of breaking the oath they take to serve the country. When the Constitution is not followed at a basic level it is futile to hold dictators, specially the military ones, accountable, and subjecting them to Article 6.
It is quite interesting to see that everyone of the four provincial governments of Pakistan do not want to implement this requirement of the Constitution even after 40 years of its' promulgation. People of Pakistan should learn something from this. The reason their country does not work and is considered a failed state, at least bordering on being one, is this refusal by its' elected and non-elected officials to follow the will of the people. That is what a Constitution of a country is: the will of the People.
Understandable. They fear PTI victories more than in general elections.
Punjab rulers will not allow local bodies election. They do not wnt to dilute powers of their fiefdom. Similarly PPP will not allow these elections until they are sure of rigging it to their advantage. SC can keep passing orders. They will be obfuscated.