(24News) Non-organization of local government elections in Punjab is a cause of concern. These views were expressed by the representative member organization Shah Hussain Regional Network Youth Commission for Human Rights in a special meeting regarding the holding of local government elections, the prominent participants of which were Rukhsana Liaquat, Saba Chaudhry, Nabila Akbar, Shahrabano, Sabra Ismat and Isra was the discoverer.
On this occasion, Program Manager Youth Commission for Human Rights, Wajahat Batul and other participants said that in the other three provinces of Pakistan, local governments are established and functioning, but unfortunately in Punjab, local government institutions are run by government machinery instead of elected leadership. are being run. Establishment of elected local governments in the country is constitutionally prohibited by Articles 7, 32 and 140A of the Constitution of Pakistan. While the province of Punjab is being deprived of its constitutional right for the past many years.
He said that Punjab government’s efforts to establish local governance through District Coordination Committees as an alternative to local governments are unacceptable. In the meeting, it was demanded that the Punjab Government should bring appropriate amendments in the Local Government Act. These include expansion of powers and duties, increase in representation rate in proportion to population and ensuring fiscal autonomy. Direct public participation should be legalised.
He said that identification of local needs and provision of services at the basic level can be the tasks that can give better results than the practical participation of the local population. However, this partnership must be protected in legal form. He demanded that local government elections should be held immediately as per the law. While amendments and legislation regarding local governments should also be taken from organizations working on local governance and civic organizations of public interest.