Says party-based elections strengthen democracy
. PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Peoples Party launched into a tirade on Thursday against the National Assembly’s decision to hold local government elections in the federal capital on non-party basis.
The lower house of parliament rejected the PPP’s proposal for making amendments to the LG bill and passed it with the help of majority votes to rationalise and reorganise the local bodies system. “The PPP believes in party-based LG polls, which strengthens democracy,” said Leader of the Opposition Khurshid Shah in a bid to convince the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to allow last-minute changes.
Referring to the Charter of Democracy signed by the PPP and the PML-N, Shah said the agreement had strengthened democracy and both the parties had consented that all elections would be held on party basis.
“The PPP isn’t afraid, but it seems that the ruling party has some fears due to which it is shying away from party-based LG polls.”
To substantiate his point that non-party elections would spike corruption, the opposition leader cited the case of independent MNAs, saying that almost all of them had joined the government.
“A similar thing would happen with the local government; perhaps the government wants to have control over everything.”
The Awami National Party’s Ghulam Bilour said the government had passed the bill through use of power (numerical strength). He lamented that such policies had divided the country.
“If the LG polls are to be held on non-party basis, then the procedure should be the same for the national and provincial assemblies.”
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said local bodies were nurseries for politics and democracy.
“The candidates should be given the chance to contest instead of imposing decisions of political parties.”
Later, the PPP announced a walkout from the session over the Punjab government’s “use of force against protesting farmers”.
MQM seeks support
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement is disappointed in all political parties because “none of them raised a voice against the Rangers’ raid on MQM headquarters Nine-Zero”.
“We were expecting political parties to raise a voice, because we had offered our support against protesters at the door of the Parliament House,” said Asif Hasnain.
The MQM also criticised PTI chief Imran Khan’s remarks against the party and its chief made during a rally a day earlier in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir.
The opposition leader backed the MQM. “Using such language weakens the system and the people think that politicians have not learned any lessons from their past.”
The MQM also staged a walkout from the proceedings of the assembly in protest against the PTI chief’s address.
Praying in unison
The government informed the NA that it was consulting with religious scholars from all the sects to introduce uniform prayer timings in the federal capital.
“A decision is likely within a week over which the nation would be happy,” said Minister of State for Religious Affairs Aminul Hasnat.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2015.
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