LAHORE - The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is determined to protect the existing local government system in Punjab adopting every legal and political means.

The PML-N has already announced that it will not allow the PTI government to roll back the existing local government system which comprises over 90 per cent representatives from the former ruling party in Punjab.

At present, the PTI is going ahead with a fresh drafting of the local government law on the premise that it will make the people’s representatives at the grass-root more powerful and vocal in addressing the public woes. The PTI says that current local government system, which the PML-N government had brought in with the delay of over five years after the Musharraf-introduced was abolished in August 2009, has miserably failed to deliver to the need of the hour. The PTI-proposed local government system has also got a go ahead by Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Punjab local government ministry under senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan who is quite busy with the nitty gritty of the proposed law. Reportedly, the PTI government despite intentions to bring the LG law to the Punjab Assembly with least possible delay, still needs time to streamline the proposals about the number of tiers it desires to retain in the new law as it was showing little interest in keeping the district councils and concur it with that of KP’s.

The PML-N Punjab government, during the two years of the existing local government system, made annual budgetary allocation of about Rs300billion for spending through the local governments but development works and effectiveness of the system remained a farce since the funds were utilized either by high-ups and authorities set up with overwhelming representation of the bureaucrats or the administrative officers. That is why, since inception, the vice chairmen of the local governments at every level have been dissatisfied with the distribution of powers and funds. They have been protesting on many occasions in this regard.

The local government system is a good source for a political party to firm itself up at the grass-roots level and broaden its support by solving the public problems of petty nature at their doorsteps and through the representatives who are from among them and available on a call. But that benefit can be achieved only if funds are spent on the public in real sense instead of promoting political interests of organizing rallies and enjoying lavish foods in private meetings.

The PML-N holds LG as a strong political base after losing power in the Centre and Punjab after General Elections 2018. At the same time it desires that cracks should not appear among the ranks of the LG representatives of the PML-N given the current changed scenario. The political analysts apprehend happening of the same since transfer of funds, the life line of the system, is at the disposal of the PTI government.

The PML-N despite all that is striving to go all out to defend the current LG system. For that purpose, the party has also formulated a strategy through establishment of various committees side by side reorganising the party at every level. President of the party Shehbaz Sharif has formed an 18-member committee in this regard, for activating the PML-N on strong footings mobilizing the public.

PML-N Lahore President and MNA Muhammad Pervez Malik told this scribe that his party will resist rolling back of the current LG system through every means. He said the party was closely studying what changes were being brought to the proposed system and once the same is announced, it will not only knock the door of the court of law but that of the Parliament also. He said if need arose they will also take to the streets to protest and defend the system which, he added, was the best to provide relief to the poor at the grass-roots level. He said the PML-N had worked very hard before enacting the LG law keeping in mind all aspects of the public needs hence the party wanted the system to pass through its term of four years. Pervez Malik said legal team of the party was closely monitoring the changes being brought to the system by the PTI government. He warned of strict resistance and approaching the court of law if the Punjab government dissolved the existing LG system to keep the same out of place for a longer time.