LAHORE – The PML-N wants the Sindh Local Government Law to be introduced through the Sindh Assembly so that it becomes acceptable to all the stakeholders in the province.
PML-N central leader Senator Pervez Rashid, while talking to this scribe, said the local bodies’ elections, after the introduction of the 18th Amendment, were a provincial subject, and the provinces were free to develop and establish the local government system as per their needs and facilities.
“Without intruding into the affairs of other provinces on this subject, the PML-N wants the Sindh Assembly to introduce the Local Bodies Ordinance because two of the coalition partners in the Sindh government have expressed their lack of confidence in the present ordinance,” Rashid viewed.
The PML-N leader said the ANP and the PML-F had expressed serious reservations over the ordinance and even announced that they would leave the government and take to street protest. “Given the current situation in Sindh, this is unaffordable. The right way is to legislate through the Sindh Assembly after taking into consideration views of other parties so that a consensus law could be introduced,” he maintained.
Rashid said in a democracy, opinion of others was given due consideration and weight, while disregard to public opinion or views of others was a disservice to democracy.
Answering a question about local bodies’ elections in Punjab, Rashid said a bill on the local government law had been presented before the Punjab Assembly, which is currently debating the same. “The process of local bodies’ elections would begin after the law in this regard was framed,” he assured.
Answering another question regarding the letter written by Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khosa to the Punjab government for holding local bodies’ polls before the upcoming general elections, Rashid said the letter showed ignorance of the governor because local bodies’ polls could only be held after the law in this regard had been framed by the Punjab Assembly.
“The governor is a representative of the federal government led by the PPP, which is in power in three provinces besides the Centre. I ask the governor whether the federal government has itself held elections in the areas where it is in power,” the PML-N senator questioned.
Rashid said the PML-N’s track record clearly showed that the party had held local bodies’ elections whenever it came to, power while the PPP’s record was dismal on this count.