LAHORE: Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmed Khan on Wednesday said that democracy is not merely an ideology but a practical process intrinsically linked to public participation, whose true strength lies in involving citizens at the grassroots level in decision-making.
He emphasized that local governments are the closest tier of governance to the people and play a central role in resolving day-to-day issues. He expressed these views while addressing a public event on grassroots democracy held at a private university.
Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan stressed that financial autonomy, transparency and timely provision of funds to local governments are essential to ensure prompt and effective service delivery to the public.
Speaking on constitutional matters, he stated that Parliament must be empowered and strong, and should not be rendered spineless. “I want to see a sovereign Parliament,” he said, adding that after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the Supreme Court adopted an interpretation that is not found elsewhere in the Commonwealth. He remarked that Parliament is regarded as supreme, while courts are meant to interpret the Constitution.
He reiterated that he had been pointing out constitutional irregularities years before the 27th Amendment and asserted that if any Parliament has shown the courage to rectify these issues, it deserves appreciation. He termed the passage of the resolution for the protection of Article 140-A of the Constitution an important development and credited Chairman PAC Ahmad Iqbal for this achievement.
The Speaker further stated that initiatives such as the “Suthra Punjab” campaign and road rehabilitation projects are integral components of an effective local government system. He emphasized that the inclusion of youth, women and minorities strengthens local democracy, and that communities thrive where local governments function effectively. He concluded by underscoring education and awareness as essential elements for the promotion of democracy at the grassroots level.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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