EDITORIAL: Reeling from the first phase of the local government elections upset in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the PTI is preparing to go into the second phase of polls to be held on March 27 under a reorganised party structure. A bigger challenge awaits it in Punjab where the five-year term of the local governments (LGs) expired on December 31.
It has until April to gear up for the contest as under the Elections Act, 2017, the Election Commission of Pakistan is bound to hold fresh polls within 120 days of the incumbents’ expiry of term. In view of its foot-dragging on the issue the ECP is reported to have warned the Punjab government that in case of non-compliance it may exercise the option of issuing an ‘order’ as it did in KP and Islamabad Capital Territory. Such a caution shouldn’t have been necessary considering that Prime Minister Imran Khan is a big proponent of devolution of power to the grassroots. Nonetheless, fear of the prevailing public mood seems to have held him back for quite some time.
The poor showing in KP elections has been blamed on the ‘mistake’ of awarding party tickets to ‘wrong’ persons as well as infighting. The party structure has since been dissolved and new office-bearers installed.
A central committee has been formed for selection of candidates and also to suggest any seat adjustments likely to be made with other parties. That alone is not going to help the PTI bounce back. What matters most to ordinary people is the ever increasing cost of living. They don’t want to hear about the factors causing inflation to rise, or that Pakistan is still cheaper than many other countries, or that it is paying a price for the alleged corrupt practices of previous governments. All they know is that they cannot make ends meet anymore.
Even though in LG polls local issues and candidates play an important role in determining results, most people tend to vote on party basis. On that score the PML-N may still have an edge over the ruling party in Punjab. Also worthwhile to note is that during the last general elections many of the traditional PPP voters had gone for the PTI.
Disenchanted and piqued by some of this government’s retrogressive policies, they are said to be returning to their old party, which may not gain much this time but will damage the PTI’s prospects. It can ignore all these factors at its own peril.
That said, unlike the other provinces, in the two provinces under its rule the PTI has introduced important reforms in the LG laws in the spirit of the concept of devolution of power. In Punjab, 11 metropolitan corporations, 15 municipal corporations and 35 district councils are to be established, and given administrative control over their affairs.
All local representatives, from the councillor to the city mayor, are to be elected through direct vote. Also to be elected are over 6,000 village and neighbourhood councils, and each village will have its own panchayat. These bodies will be allocated funds for local development schemes. That should enable them to address important local needs at local level.
But they would still be looking towards the provincial government for funds, and hence remain dependent on it. That won’t resolve the issue of uneven development. It is imperative therefore that the National Finance Commission Award formula for distribution of revenue is replicated at the provincial level so that developmental imbalance can be effectively rectified.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2022
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