THE local body election (LBE) process started across the country in March last and concluded in early December. This is a constitutional requirement which had to be complied with by the Election Commission of Pakistan and by all the four provincial governments, soon after the general elections held in February 2013.
The local body system (LBS) is the spirit of democracy where power rests with those who are approachable by the people. Why were these elections delayed? According to LB laws, most development funds are directly vested in the hands of local bodies instead of MNAs and MPAs.
These members of assemblies are called lawmakers too and their main role islegislation, and not development work. As most of them do not have the capacity and expertise, a huge amount, in the form of development fund, is placed at their disposal just to bind them with their government and parties.
In fact, the taxpayer`s hard-earned money is used to buy their loyalties and that is why no party is interested in local bodies elections. Finally, on the Supreme Court`s order these governments were compelled to hold LB elections in 2015. They complied with the order of the Supreme Court but despite a lapse of considerable time, local bodies have not been functional as yet.
If all the political parties were not interested in local bodies electionsL they had the option to amend the constitution.On the one hand, billions of rupees of taxpayers were wasted on elections and, on the other hand, billions of rupees are still being paid to these elected members as their salaries and that too without doing anything concrete for the people of Pakistan.
