Daily Times

Despite the fact that the concept of the local government system is not new for the masses of Pakistan, it arouses a great deal of suspicion and unstated resistance because of its misuse over the years for creating a false base of support for the benefit of the military dictators littered through our history. After General Ayub introduced this system for the first time, Generals Zia and Musharraf followed in his footsteps in what became a predictable pattern. That is why civilian elected governments seem somewhat averse to its institution whenever they are in power. The present governments too have proved no different and have been dragging their feet over holding new local bodies elections since the previous local governments installed by Musharraf completed their tenure in 2009. The anomaly has developed despite the fact that the present provincial governments, under Article 140-A, are constitutionally bound to hold local bodies elections within 90 days after the local governments complete their term.

The Supreme Court (SC) has now had to take suo motu notice of the situation. In the latest hearing on Thursday, the chief secretaries of all four provinces have submitted their governments’ replies but none of them have given a stipulated schedule of local bodies (LB) polls in their jurisdiction. The matter of incomplete voters’ list had been presented as an argument, which does not carry weight as the Election Commission of Pakistan is on it 24/7 and by the time the provincial governments make due arrangements for holding the LB polls and issue their schedules, the new voters’ lists could be complete.

It has to be understood that local bodies make up the lowest rung in the ladder of the democratic edifice. As the federal and provincial governments are usually far removed from the reach of the masses, services and redressal of citizens’ complaints can and should be dealt with as far as possible at the LBs level. This is the most responsive manner to address problems at the grassroots level and for efficiently solving day-to-day affairs of the citizens in a democratic system. The reluctance of the present political parties in complying with the constitutional provision is mainly due to a roadblock in their minds created by the military dictators’ tried and tested formula of creating a base of support for themselves through LBs while marginalising the role of political parties. Now if the provincial governments, as per the statements of their government officials before the SC, are working to hold the LB polls, these efforts should be welcomed. Local governments could actually strengthen the political base of the political parties at the grassroots. Do not be timid gentlemen, grasp the nettle firmly. *