The long and short of it
Elected local governments are the foundation of democracy, without a shred of doubt. Today, more than 70 countries in various parts of the world are going through transition for implementing political and administrative reforms with the aim of decentralising and strengthening local governance.
But unfortunately in Pakistan local government does not enjoy the constitutional protection and cover. Secondly, the political elite are not willing to decentralise power to the grassroot level due to various factors. However, it is believed that local government could ensure the delivery of key services that are fundamental to tackling poverty, improving well-being and quality life of citizens.
Acclaimed political analyst Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi told DNA that provincial governments and the political elite are reluctant in Pakistan to hold local government elections because they don’t want to surrender power to district level and below. At the moment it is the chief ministers and provincial government who are in control of power both in terms finance and administration, and if local government elections are arranged they have to surrender some sort of power to the grassroots.
Secondly, MNAs and MPAs are also jealous of local governments because they want development funds to be spent through them, rather than local government, that is why local governments remain neglected, said Dr Rizvi.
Adding to what Dr Rizvi said, his colleague and political analyst Anjum Rasheed was of the opinion that local government elections are essential for establishing democracy in its true essence.
“Local government elections empower the people of the country at the union council level, both economically and socially. But, unfortunately the formula according to which the local government elections were arranged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, and will be arranged in Punjab and Sindh, candidates are not given complete autonomy as chief minister could dismiss the mayors anytime”, added Rasheed.
Political Economist Mobeen Chughtai said there is a phenomenon in rural parts of the country where the Jagirdar refuses to educate his serfs fearing the results of increasing awareness within the local community. The case of delayed local government elections under what is popularly seen to be a “democratic” setup is nothing different.
MNAs and MPAs are also jealous of local governments because they want development funds to be spent through them, rather than local government, that is why local governments remain neglected
“You must understand, we are ruled by a gang of thugs that has been bleeding Pakistan, slowly, ever since its inception. Only faces and procedures change — but the gang remains in control,” said Chughtai, asking why one would even expect such people to pursue policies of genuine empowerment.
“Why would ‘they’ ever, voluntarily, weaken their stranglehold? For your benefit? Or mine? Since when do we matter?”
He added that while the world moves toawrds more decentralisation of power our honorable chief minister for Punjab holds onto a number of important ministries. In such a case, if we continue to have faith in the benevolence of our rulers, then the fault doesn’t lie with them. They are very competent at lining their pockets and protecting their interests. It is we who are the fools.
Political analyst Wajahat Masood told DNA that democratic paradigm does not come full circle without local governments. The legislative tiers of democracy cannot attain their due context without proper local government structures in place. However, in our national context, the local government debate has two divergent angles. The popular political leadership is apprehensive of local government because it jeopardises their hold over local and entrenched interests.
On the other hand, military dictatorships and other undemocratic alternates have been fond of local governments, he added, maintaining that for two different reasons it allows creation of an alternative political leadership as against popular and electable political leaders.
“In the background the democratic political leadership should absorb and accommodate local government paradigm in their overall political narratives,” said Masood.
Women participation
Women rights activist Shabana Wahid Khan told DNA that we have always maintained that local government serves as a nursery for democracy.
“Latest amendments have cut down women seats despite the fact that key to development of democratic norms in any country depends on women’s political participation in local government. These amendments are a blow to already existing restrictions on women’s political participation and result in the state systematically keeping women out of the political processes,” she said, adding that “this is a nursery for women leaders as it paves the way for them to contest and go up the ranks in provincial and national assembly”.
If the government ensures effective and full participation of women in local government, it will act as an ice breaker for established cultural norms where women are not made part of the political process. In order for any local government to be successful, women’s inclusion and their effective role, instead of a token one, should be ensured.
“Unless women’s meaningful participation is ensured in local governments, effective political decentralisation will largely be unsuccessful,” Khan added.
Development funds
With development funds ranging from Rs4.88billion to Rs9.75 billion every fiscal year, provincial governments are reluctant to arrange local government elections.
Latest amendments have cut down women seats despite the fact that key to development of democratic norms in any country depends on women’s political participation in local government
“The leading political parties want the huge amount of developments funds at their discretion as the people elected at the grassroot level do not belong to their parties all the time. That is why they avoid local government elections,” said political analyst and a policy advisor Salman Abid.
Constitutional protection
Abid added that local government elections were due in Pakistan in 2010, but unlike provincial and national assembly elections, these do not have a 90-day deadline.
“There is no compulsion in the constitution of Pakistan to arrange local government elections within 90 days, that is why the provincial leadership cannot be held accountable”.
“Although article 29 states that the local bodies elections will be held within three months of holding of general elections, unfortunately it is not the case,” he added.
Recognition of local governments
In order for local government to be able to effectively serve its purpose there are a number of preconditions that need to be in place.
“The principles of the local democracy look at the importance of a democratically elected framework for local government to be accountable to the community, but also at local government as a participatory mechanism allowing communities to take part in the decisions which affect their quality of life,” added Abid.
Recognition by both the central and provincial governments is extremely important as this opens the gateway for local authorities to be able to claim their rightful space in a country’s system of governance, and therefore the resources that are due to them for the services they are responsible for delivering.
Local government elections without census
PML-N’s MNA Shaza Fatima Khawaja told DNA that local bodies are a key to bridging the gap between the people and institutions of governance.
“They are the missing link from the equation of democracy at the moment. However, having these elections before a credible census might result in distorted results,” she said.
