RAWALAKOT – Amidst the election season in Azad Jammu Kashmir, the civil society and youth have pressed the need for amendment in the interim act 1974 to bind the elected government to ensure local bodies elections in the state. This demand came up during a policy dialogue arranged by Centre for Peace, Development and Reforms (CPDR), a training and research think tank, wherein the participants demanded for youth and women empowerment in the local bodies to ensure devolution of power to the grassroots. Speaking on the occasion, Kashmir Council Member Saghir Chughtai lauded the efforts of the CPDR, saying that deliberate delays of successive governments in holding local bodies’ elections have led to a development deficit among different regions of the state, which can only be bridged through immediate transfer of power to the grassroots. Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ejaz Afzal spoke at length on the deliberate delay and neglect of the incumbent government and stated that the revival of local bodies could pose a serious challenge to those who favour dynastic and hereditary politics in the state. He vehemently supported the devolution of judicial, financial and administrative powers to the grassroots. Speaking on the occasion, former adviser and People’s Party leader Sardar Azeem admitted that despite clear court orders his party could not ensure the local bodies in the state, which was a clear manifestation of lack of political will and seriousness on the issue. It is a fact that due to the absence of local governance system, the accountability of elected representatives was compromised due to a lack of access to grassroots and it gave rise to corruption in the state, he said. While presenting the Pakistan Muslim league-N’s stance, Javaid Sharif stated that due to the absence of local government and ban on student unions in the state, “we could not build new leadership and this political space is seized by influential and rich people resulting in further aggravation of the political system”. Sardar Javaid Nisar said that his party held intra party elections on regular basis to give opportunity and space to young people. “Our leadership believes in empowerment of common citizens through democratic process,” he added. While introducing the topic, CPDR Executive Director Ershad Mahmud briefed the participants that the CPDR is holding a series of dialogues between the youth and the political leadership of the state to provide a platform to young people to communicate their aspirations and issues to their leadership for better and improved governance. “We believe that empowered and awared young people can be driver of change and they should be given chances to start a debate with their leadership,” he added. Dr Syed Waqas Ali gave a detailed presentation on the local government system in the state and across the globe, saying that how empowered local bodies played significant role in ensuring good governance and accountability in the world. He stated that due to limited spaces in the state, young people were frustrated of their leadership and their deliberate alienation from political process was a serious challenge for the upcoming government. The participants demanded the political representatives to give the constitutional cover for the local bodies’ elections through an amendment in Act 1974. They also demanded the parties to fix the time frame for local government elections in case to ensure free and transparent elections in the state. One of the key issues emerged out from the discussion was the lack of spaces for young people to participate in active politics and their continuous disengagement from the existing system. It was demanded in the consensus point that at least 25 per cent quota should be allocated to young people in the local government system.