Transfer of power: LG body chairman and deputy chairman threaten to resign

QUETTA: Elected leaders of the local bodies, including the mayor of Quetta, chairmen and deputy chairmen from all other districts of Balochistan, have threatened to tender their resignations if the local bodies were not transferred administrative and constitutional powers under article 141/A of constitution in coming days.

This decision was made during a meeting held under the chairmanship of Quetta mayor Dr. Kaleemullah Kakar. The deputy mayor Quetta, chairmen, deputy chairmen and other local bodies’ members were present in the meeting who had come from different parts of Balochistan.

“The powers should be transferred to local bodies under the constitution in order to strengthen the democratic process in lower level,” decided in the meeting. “All the elected members of local bodies will use the democratic right to protest and even to resign to register the protest.”

It is unfortunate that the newly elected members are unaware about their administrative and constitutional powers. “Earlier the elected members were told that they would be given four billion rupees but now the amount has been decreased to one and half billion rupees,” the Mayor Quetta told the meeting.

The elected members have said that they are hopeful that the newly elected members of other provinces would also support them in this quest to attain the rights.

“The crucial issue is the distribution of powers among the elected members,” the meeting said.

The participants had said the funds and grants related to the local government should go through the newly elected members. The elected members have presented several demands from provision of funds and powers for distribution of funds.

Over 32 elected members of local bodies from different parts of the Balochistan have violated the section 144 in Quetta as they marched towards Chief Minister House. They were not stopped and questioned as they managed to enter CM house and held talks. The talks were underway until this report was filed.