Govt wants powerless local bodies: Qadri

LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri has said if local bodies are not given the powers written in the Constitution, the PAT will not hesitate to take to the streets. He said the government wants powerless local bodies and does not believe in devolution of power and is bent upon using the ‘Amendment Terrorism’ formula once again.
Tahirul Qadri was talking to the representatives of Local Bodies Committee which was formed earlier to oversee and monitor the upcoming LB elections. The committee apart from overseeing the LB polls has the responsibility for formulating the LB Polls Manifesto for the PAT.
Dr Tahirul Qadri said former nazims, naib nazims, councillors and the democracy-loving educated youth will have to play their due role to form real authoritative local bodies. He said the rulers were planning to bring about a toothless LB system and representatives.
The PAT chief said the rulers had formed a family dynasty and the assemblies were powerless and useless and now it was up to people of the province to elect such representatives who have the courage to stand up to the ruthless and cruel rulers and make sure that true people’s representatives were elected who could play an effective role in the uplift and development of the province and bring about prosperity to the poor. He said: “We do not want the institutions that only welcome ministers and set up camps in their honour and do no concrete work for people.”
Qadri said the PAT will provide an educated and honest leadership in LB elections and candidates would be nominated for every seat. He said the PAT representatives will take account of each and every penny taken by the rulers in the name of Local bodies. The PAT chief said he was not conspiring against the rulers. They are their own biggest enemies, he added.