Grassroots democracy: ‘Local government polls necessary to facilitate masses’

Lawmakers urge govt to hold local elections as soon as possible.

LAHORE:

Several members of the provincial assembly on Thursday called for holding local government elections as soon as possible so as to mitigate administrative problems.

They were talking at a consultative session titled Transparent and Accountable Local Government System in the Punjab organised by the Institute of Social and Policy Sciences (I-SAPS) in collaboration with Citizen Voice Project of the USAID.

Lawmakers representing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said holding of local government elections and devolving powers to the grassroots level would serve the people.

MPAs Abdul Rauf Mughal, Chaudhary Rafaqat Hussain, Begum Nasreen Nawaz, Salma Shaheen Butt, Rukhsana Kausar, Farzana Butt and Naseem Bano represented the PML-N.

Mughal said the Punjab Local Government Act 2013 was a manifestation of political of the PML-N to hold fair and transparent local government elections.

He said a special committee of the provincial assembly had consulted opposition parties, members of the civil society, the legal fraternity and the media before approving the bill.

PTI’s Ahmad Khan Bhachar, Mian Aslam Iqbal and PPP’s Khurram Jahangir Wattoo criticised the delay in holding the polls.

They said the ruling party was not interested in devolving power to the grassroot level.

“The inordinate delay for one or the other excuse is regrettable,” Bachar said. He also said the government should immediately hold a census.

Earlier, Muhammad Naeem Sidhu, a research fellow of the I-SAPS, gave a presentation on the issue of local governments.

He said to ensure transparency, accountability and appropriate delivery of services at the doorsteps of common man, holding fair and free local government election was of immense significance.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2014.