LG systems in line with spirit of 18th Amendment urged

To strengthen democracy in Pakistan, there is no other system than to put in place elected local government systems in the spirit of 18th Constitutional Amendment. This was a consensus of speakers at the end of a multi-party meeting on 'Setting an agenda for democratic local government systems in the spirit of 18th Constructional Amendment'.
The meeting was organised by Rural Development Policy Institute (RDPI) in collaboration with Practical Action and European Union here at a local hotel on Thursday. The following speakers addressed the meeting: Mahmoob Ahmed Khan of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Amjad Bhatti from School of Political and Strategic Communication, Salama Abid of SPO, Mehanz Rafi of PML-Q, Jamil Omer of Awami Party, Chaudhry Manzoor of PPP, Farooq Tariq of Labour Party, Bushra Khaliq, Abdul Shakoor Sindhu, Mir Badur Khan Hoti of ANP and Shaiza Khan.
The speakers were of the view that local government system of 1979 and 2001 were not compatible to the true spirit of the democratic devolution; only a new local government system devised by the provincial assemblies could cater the imperative of the true local government system.
According to them, our society has ceased to question. Non-questing attitude of society and political actors during the party-less local elections of General Zia paved the way for the corrupt to entire politics. We have been bearing the brunt of this non-questioning culture.
Moreover, the analysis of Punjab's budget 2010-11 indicates that 84 percent of all development funds for Punjab have been consumed by the city of Lahore alone. This is the price people pay when issues of local governance are left in the hands of unelected administrators. Also, all development funds acquired in the name of South Punjab are being used in city of Multan alone. For the solution of local problems, local government systems need to be put in place immediately.
They said it was time to pressurise the government to hold local government elections. "Only elected local governments can take care of people's problems. Dictatorship is an attitude that doesn't allow anyone to share power. By delaying local government's elections the government has missed an opportunity to strengthen democracy," they added.
They observed that local governance system did not suit to the major political parties; civil society should draft local government system and launch advocacy and lobbying campaign with legislative bodies and political parties.