Professional Documents
Culture Documents
120131
120131
Abstract
Pakistan has a poor data of democracy as for more than half
of its years of existence after independence. It has been governed by
the military. While the Military governments always created faults
with the politicians. It was the basic reason; the Military
Government always shaped the Local Government systems as per
their own desires to prolong their regimes. Pakistan had experienced
with two systems of Local Government before the present
Devolution Plan. Historical, analytical and comparative approach is
adopted in this discourse. Here an attempt is made to present a
general view of such elements which resist change in local bodies
system.
Contextual Analysis:
Local institutions means sub units at the public level to which the government gives some
authorities so that, they may be able to solve the local problems with the local resources.1
Local Bodies are a system of Government which provides the facilities to the people in specific
areas but in Pakistan it is still in experimental stage.2Laski says, we cannot realize the full
benefit of democratic government unless we begin by the admission that all problems are not
central problems and that the results of problems not central; in their incidence require decision
at the place and by the persons where and by whom the incidence is most deeply felt.3
Historical Notes:
The history of Local Government elections inside Pakistan was started from the regime
of General Ayub Khan (1959-1969). In 1959, he issued an Ordinance through which non-party
Local Government Basic Democracy elections were held.
Muhammad Asif Malik, Local Self Government in Pakistan, Lahore; Publishers, Emporium, 2006, p .16.
means
of
local
representation
and
more
an
arm
of
the
bureaucracy.4
At the lower level the Local Government is a drill of democracy, and is the source of political
education. In developing countries like Pakistan these institutions represent the powers of Local
groups. Zia-ul-Haq, after coming into power, reviewed the system of Local Government and
established this system on strong footings, which progressed step by step. 5 Local Government
Ordinance (2001), Devolution Plan set up the National Reconstruction Bureau as a think tank. Its
mission was to establish the real democracy in the country with the help of reconstructing the
institutions of state.
District Government, Town Councils, Union Councils, Village Councils and Citizen
Community Boards wereplanned by the National Reconstruction Bureau. The District Assembly,
the Nazim, the District Administration, the District Police, District Public Safety and Justice
Committee formed the District. Chairmen of all Union councils in a District formed the District
Assemble.6
Mahmood, Safdar,( 2000). Pakistan: Political Roots and Development 1947-1999. Oxford University Press; p. 79.
5
Jalal, Ayesha, (1995). Democracy & Authoritarianism in Pakistan: A comparative and historical perspective. Lahore: Sang-e-
Meel; p. 99.
Callard,K.(1975).Pakistan: A Political Study. London: George Allen and Unwin; p.70.
Talbot, I. (1998). Pakistan, A Modern History. New York: St. Martins Press; p.10.
6
Rizvi S A (1976). Changing Patterns of Local Govt. in Pakistan, A study in clashof ideas. IST Ed. Ideal Packages,
Karachi; pp. 28,38, .andSiddiqui, K. (1992). Local Government in South Asia, Dhaka: University Press Limited; p.
67.
Distribution of sources.
This plan gave the guarantee of the rights of the people and their participation in the community
welfare.
Provincial Local Government Ordinance, 2001 provided the framework for the Local
Government in Faisalabad. This Local Government system introduced democracy at the grassroot level to serve as the foundation on which we could build the genuine democracy. Due to
which power was given to the peoples representatives at all levels. The administrative setup was
connected with responsibilities. These clear responsibilities provided protection against political
interference. The administration worked under the elected head of the District because the
effective check and balances was an integral part of the Local Government plan. Till the
Islamabad; p. 19.
1st tier
District
2nd tier
3rd tier
Tehsil
Tehsil
Union
Union
Union
Union
Council
Council
Council
Council
Village
Village
Village
Village
Figure: I
The present Local Government system was introduced in 2001, for developing the
democracy for strong supremacy and another objective was to transfer of power to the
representative of people. For this purpose National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) was
Access funds for the transition period which was provided by the Federal Devolution Fund
District Government
Education
12
Niazi, M. A. ( 1994) . Local Bodies; the history, The Daily News on Friday, 30th September.
Roads
District Roads
Water
Yes
Fire Services
Yes
Yes
Animals
Slaughterhouses, Fairs
Street Services
Key:
13
Cheema A, Khaja I A and Qadir A (2004). Decentralization in Pakistan: Context, Content and Causes. Kennedy School
Indicators
Sector
Political
Decentralization
Macro( Local)
Importance of elected
Multi-part
elections
formulation
Importance of elected
bodies in sector service
delivery
in
decisions
Government
Importance of elected
bodies
Local
funding
Table: 2
The dominating ideology in a society played an important role to understand the structure of the
political system at national as well as Local level. Local Body system had linked with Local
biradaries. This relation played an important role during general elections and influenced the
result at Local level.
Andrew Wilders opinion on Local Bodies and its role:
The 1985 National and Provincial Assemblies elections demonstrated that
Local Body politics had become the entry point into Provincial and National
politics. According to one press account 124 of the 240 members elected to the
Punjab Provincial Assembly were sitting members of Local Body. It meant that
Provincial and National politics began to resemble Local Body politics.
Patronage politics became the order of the day, and representing personal and
constituent interests became much more important for legislators than
The social system of Faisalabad was dominant by caste system. Local identities and local issues
were the part of the politics of Faisalabad. Their political loyalties were attached with their
family and biradari. In Faisalabad political parties except Muslim League (N&Q)had not been
taking interest in Local Bodies election but they take part in the election of of 2002 in forms of
group with different names. Millat Party ( Sher Dad Group), Jamat Islami ( Ihtsaab group),
PML-N ( Quaid-i-Azam group), Pakistan Awami
(Istehkam-e- Pakistan group) , Tehreek Insaf ( Insaf group) and more than 80% male and
female candidates were directly attached with political parties their loyalties was related with
their political parties. In Faisalabad these Local Groups became active and participated as a
representative of political parties during general elections of 2001.
Nazim
Naib Nazim
Votes
Faisalabad District
2596
Faisalabad City
797
Town Samundari
Abdul Hameed
255
Ali Gohar
223
Town Jhumra
Tariq Mehmood
152
Town Jaranwala
350
Tehsil Sadar
Misbah-ud-Din Zagham
Dr. Yasin
466
Table: 3
In August 2002, the District Government of Faisalabad was consists of District Nazim, District
Naib Nazim, and the District Administration. The Naib District Nazim was the speaker of the
District Council and the District Nazim was notthe member of the Council. The Provincial
Government interfered in the elections of District Nazims because the seats of Nazim were
distributed between the major biradaries and these biradaries were in the majority in the District .
So this biradari system had a major say in the political arena of Faisalabad.
14
Wilder, A. R.(1999). The Pakistani Voter: Electoral Politics and Voting Behavior in the Punjab. Karachi: Oxford
University Press; p.133.
Total number of town wise elected seats in city District Government Faisalabad
No. of Union
Total No. of
Town
Town
15
13
195
Chak Jumera
Jarranwala
Town
57
13
741
Tandianwala
Town
28
13
364
Sumundri
Town
28
13
364
Madina
Town
41
13
533
Iqbal
Town
43
13
559
Jinnah
Town
39
13
507
Lyallpur
Town
38
13
494
289
13
3757
Total
Town
Councilors
The District Nazim and Naib Nazim elected as joint candidates through the vote of Nazim and
Naib Nazim of all Union Councils of a District. There was seats reserved for 5% for Peasants/
labourers, 33% for women and 5% for minority candidates.
In fact the Decentralization process was based on the concept of contributory. The
goal of the system was that the actual problems of the people would be solved at their doorstep
and this thing would improve the quality of governance. Although the Local government brought
the significant change in the performance of elected representative because the local councils
15
Ahmad Sultan, ( 1997), Public Administration: With Special Reference to Pakistan. Lahore: Famous Books; p.339.
10
= 96
The election at the Union level formed the backbone of the political system and
structure of Local Government of Faisalabad. AT that level election was direct .This direct
election formed the Union Council. Each Union Council was consiss of 26 elected members. Out
of these 26 were general seats, 8 seats for males and 8 seats for females. Nazim was the head of
the Union Council. Union Council were extended to Urban areas in the District for the equal
participation of Local representative of political parties. This thing equalized the level of Local
representation presented to Urban and Rural areas. AT the District level Nazim and Naib Nazim
of all the Union Council elected the District Nazim and District Naib Nazim. Similarly this
electoral college elected peasant (5%) , women (33%) and minority candidates.
The New set up of Local Bodies working under Punjab Local Govt. Ordinance 2001amended
2005 which came into force w.e.f.14-08-2001. Previous Local Bodies were working under
Punjab Local Govt. Ordinance 1979 which is repealed now.In the New Local Council System 5City Districts in the Punjab had been declared.
06-10-2005.
17-10-2005
28- 12-2005.
16
Siddiqui, A (2000). Local Self Government. IST ed. Ever- new Book Palace, Lahore; p. 150.
11
19-01-2006
23-01-2006
96
14
14
413
of
Town
the No.
Of No.
of
Union
Lady
Councils
members of Members
Union
/labour
Minority
of Members
Of Total No. Of
Members
of Union Council
in the Town
the Town
1
Chak
Jumera 15
05
01
01
22
57
19
03
03
82
28
09
01
01
39
28
09
01
01
39
41
14
02
02
59
43
14
02
02
61
39
13
02
02
56
38
13
02
02
55
Town
2
Jarranwala
Town
Tandianwala
Town
Sumundri
Town
Madina
Town
Iqbal
Town
Jinnah
Town
Lyallpur
12
of
Wise 289
Total
Nazims
96
14
14
Lady
Peasant/
Minority
Labour
413
Members
Table: 5
Although political decentralization was fairly completed by various principles and election were
held in a free and fair manner but the following issues have been identified in the set up and its
implementation in District Faisalabad.17
Conclusion
The system of Local Self -Government had its strengths and weaknesses. This system offered
many opportunities and it faced a number of pressures. Through this system, for the first time
many significant elements had been made separately from linking checks and balance. Various
levels of Local institutions had elected thousands of men and women for organization the smooth
function of Local Self -Government.
The Local Government Ordinance gave them powers to make important decisions
which dealt not only with Local Government functions but also the Annual Development
Programs. This plan set the agenda for Decentralization and the Devolution of power while the
real test was with its implementation. The purpose of any democratization process was to bring
people closer to Government. Due to that they got knowledge about their fundamental rights.
After that they could be able to manage their own cultural, economic and political affairs in a
society.
Faisalabad District had the exceptional position of having almost all its Union
Councils with their particular Citizen Community Boards. These would be important to ensuring
community participation and development. It would be up to District, Tehsil and Union
Administrations to make ensure that an enabling working environment was created for the
development of Local Development. It was necessary to give the space and time to this system
to become mature. This thing required great patience, understanding and a change in behavior at
17
Paracha, Saad Abdullah, (2003). Devolution in Pakistan: Context,implementation and issues. Available at:
www.policy. Hu/paracha.
13
of likelihood
between the District Nazim and Tehsil Nazims could be on surface, which could destroy the
system. These differences had their roots in party political loyalties. In the election of Local self
Government, Pakistan Muslim League supported the District Nazim. The PPP and Jamaat-IIslami supported three Tehsil Nazims. Training and capacity played an important role in
successfulness implementation of this program.
The implementation of change and performance management, financial management
and fiscal decentralization would be impossible if
14
15