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Thursday March 28, 2024

No revisiting of non-party elections

Head of PPP Media CellPakistan People’s Party (PPP) wants forthcoming local bodies elections should be held on party basis and the PML-N wants the same on non-party basis. It is pertinent to mention that both the parties had committed themselves in the Charter of Democracy (CoD) to promote Party politics

By Akram Shaheedi
March 30, 2015
Head of PPP Media Cell
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) wants forthcoming local bodies elections should be held on party basis and the PML-N wants the same on non-party basis. It is pertinent to mention that both the parties had committed themselves in the Charter of Democracy (CoD) to promote Party politics in the country based on the best democratic practices to strengthen the political system in the country. The CoD was signed by the then top leadership of the PPP and the incumbent leader of the PML-N on May 14, 2006, in London. The document reflected the resolve of the two major political parties to reject the politics of vendetta and political victimisation that had smeared the politics of ninety’s creating space for the anti-people forces to fill the vacuum at the expense of the people’s rule. The lesson was learnt the hard way, but sadly after so much water had already flowed down the bridge. However, all had to reconcile with the state of affairs, better late than never. But, nothing will be unfortunate for the country if any one of the signatory let the history revisit again for trivial political immediate gains knowing the long-term pains.
The passing of the recent Bill by the Treasury Benches to hold local bodies’ elections in Islamabad on non-party basis is quintessentially against the spirit of CoD. It is indeed against the Lahore High Court judgment on the subject matter. The High Court gave the judgment on the petition filed by the PPP challenging Punjab government’s contention to hold local bodies’ elections on non-party basis. The decision of the High Court directed the Election Commission and the Punjab government to hold local bodies’ elections on party basis. The PPP has also opposed the Bill in the Parliament regarding the non-party basis elections in Islamabad. The party intends to challenge it in the court of law if the ruling party did not halt its juggernaut. Besides, PPP is also averse of non-party elections because these were introduced by dictator Ziaul Haq to weaken the political parties and perpetuate his rule. His abysmal objective was to create a class of self-serving politicians and groups to create his own constituency. He destroyed the institutions and mutilated the politics of the country almost beyond redemption on purpose. He unilaterally introduced scores of amendments in the Constitution to mortify democratic dispensation. The notorious 58(20)b incorporated by him led to axe many elected governments despite them enjoying majority in the respective Parliaments.
PPP cannot afford to be party to the reminiscent of the dictator who had played havoc with the collective destiny of the nation thus inflicted sufferings of appalling proportion. The question is why PML-N is taking plunge in the forbidden arena?
PML -N looks desperate to hold local bodies’ elections on non-party basis. Its desperation is myopic because its pursuit will cut the roots of the democratic edifice by setting a bad precedent. Obviously, the PML-N is overtaken by the fear of possible electoral defeat in the party-basis elections. The apprehension is well placed because the government has failed to address the basic issues of common man. Its scorecard of good governance is grotesquely very poor. People’s sufferings have multiplied and their hopes of better days have reduced to a far-fetched cry. According to the assessment of mandarins, non-party elections will provide them the smoke screen to hide behind as their respectability is at stake. Bad performance in the local bodies’ elections, if held on party basis, will give credence to the rigging allegations in general elections, 2013, leading to cutting the ground from underneath of the feet of the ruling party.
The government is already on slippery slope and is embroiled in many problems in the wake of back to back crisis due to loadshedding of electricity, no relief to the down trodden, protests by farmers’ community, regional economic development disparities causing economic deprivation, and worsening law and order situation has implanted acute sense of insecurity in the minds of the people. The situation is likely to accentuate during this summer due to the possible yawning gap of supply and demand of electricity adding to the woes of the government who are already in deep trouble. Rigging allegations are tightening the noose around the neck of the government with the possible de-seating of its elected members.
Syed Khurshid Shah, Opposition Leader, while opposing the Bill regarding the holding of local bodies’ elections on non- party basis in Islamabad has disclosed that the Bill is a prelude to replicate it in the Punjab where the PML-N heads the government.
Earlier, the Punjab government decided to hold local bodies’ election on non-party basis but the Lahore High Court scuttled the move. It looks certain that Bill passed in the National Assembly will not attract the favorable response in the Senate where the government does not enjoy the majority. It will be difficult because the Chairman of the Senate Raza Rabbani is from the PPP who can also play his role because of his impeccable democratic credentials as an outstanding parliamentarian.
Local Bodies elections in cantonment areas are also being held on non-party basis next month. PPP has opposed it and has asked the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold elections of local bodies on party-basis. Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo and other PPP leaders have urged the ECP to act in the light of the Lahore High Court judgment. They have also expressed their resolve to challenge it in the Court of law if the ECP failed to comply with the judgment of the court. The impression of this government as compulsive trouble make is getting stronger incrementally because all the predicaments are of their making. The exercise of ordinary prudence would have saved the people to a large extent from the painful aftermaths of back to back crisis.
Ironically, the dictators had been very keen to hold local bodies elections in the country and the elected governments showed little or no interest in holding such elections. The dictators invariably held local bodies’ elections with tainted intentions to create support base in order to seek a degree of legitimacy to linger on their doctorial rule. They also encouraged such mechanism at local levels to give people sense of participation to handle the local affairs at local level. General Ayub Khan used local members for his political purpose because the basic democrats constituted the Electoral College for the election of the President.
On the other hand, the elected governments had been reluctant o hold such elections because of three reasons. Firstly, the elected members of the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies oppose the local governments for the sake of preserving their turf that will liquidate if local governments start functioning. Secondly, governments’ inherent inclination not to devolve authority.
Thirdly, the provincial governments lay their hands on the development funds of the local bodies’ to execute the projects according to their whims.
This has been the practice of the Punjab government because it has appropriated billions of rupees of funds of local government to complete the showpiece projects like Metro Bus Project in Lahore. The Auditor General had not reconciled such expenditures for their being devoid of valid charge. But, who cares if the people of the rest of province have to live in inhuman conditions because of the pathetic infrastructure of health, education and communication facilities attributed to the lackluster attitude of the planners sitting in the provincial capital.
As we say, government at the doorsteps is the best government. Local governments exemplify such governments where local problems are addressed at the local level with the meaningful participation of the people through their elected representatives. In the absence of the local governments, the bureaucrats assumed the role and the provision of civic amenities to the local people generally fall victim to red-tapism. The delivery of services to the people cannot be ensured other than the local government system. In the advanced democracies, local governments have vast role in the areas like law enforcement, provision of education and health facilities, waste management including ensuring the provision of quality of food to the people and many others. The perfect system in France, County System in Britain and in the USA local bodies are headed by elected mayor and so on. The city governments are an integral part of their democratic system. It is fair to say that without the elected local governments the process of democratisation falls short of the benchmark. A democratic dispensation without elected local governments is analogous to a superstructure with weak foundation.
The local governments are the lower rung of democratic set up where from the provincial and national leadership emerges to assume the bigger responsibilities as trained, experienced and well versed politicians.
To circumvent the formation of elected local government is like stalling the democratisation of the society. Opposition to hold local bodies’ elections is like hurting democracy. Opponents should not fear of the unfounded and unforeseen consequences and rather project the principled politics that definitely serves better sooner or later.
muhammadshaheedi@yahoo.com