Basic Democracy System During Ayub’s Era:

Ayub Khan issued an ordinance of Basic Democracies on October 27, 1959 and introduced the system of Local
Governments in Pakistan. The Basic Democracies System was designed to accomplish multiple political objectives.
It was expected both to mobilize the mass of the people, especially in rural areas for development activities and to
give them a sense of active participation in local affairs.

Basic Democracy System Organization

It was a four-tiered hierarchical structure consisting of:

 The Union Council

 The Tehsil Council
 The District Council
 The Divisional Council

Union Council:

This was the lowest but basic tier of the system. It consisted of 5-8 villages of about 8000-15,000 population. There
used to be 10-15 electoral wards and from each ward one councilor was to be elected by the adult franchise rule.
A person of 21 year old can cast vote.

Functions:

 Judicial, Economic, Agriculture, Industrial

 Communication Development
 Food Production Development
 Lastly, this union council was converted into Electoral College for the election of President and the
members of assemblies.

Tehsil Council:

The next tier was called Tehsil Council. There was no election to this council and it was consisted of some official
and non-official members. The non-official members were the chairmen of all the union councils within the Tehsils
and the official members were the heads of all the nation building departments in the Tehsil. The council was
headed by the Assistant Commissioner of the area.

Functions:

 It acted as a coordinating body between the Union Council and District Council.

District Council:

The most important tier was the District Council. The Head of the Council was Deputy Commissioner of the district
and the Vice-Chairmen used to be selected from amongst the chairmen of the Tehsils or Union Councils by the
deputy Commissioner.

Functions:

 It performed vast financial and executive powers. In addition to the development functions, it could
impose any tax. The functions of Deputy Commissioner were divided into:
o Compulsory:
 Compulsory functions included the provision and maintenance of schools, libraries,
hospitals, public roads and play grounds.
o Optional:
 It included the provision of secondary and higher secondary education, the culture and
economic welfare of people.
Divisional Council:

The upper most tier was the Divisional Council. It was headed by the Divisional Commissioner. It was headed by
the Divisional Commissioner. The members of the Divisional Council consisted of Deputy Commissioner, Vice-
chairmen of districts within the divisions and the divisional level officers as official members.

Local Government System of Zia’s Regime

After very long suspension, the local government system was restructured and implemented. Mani
theme presented was the delegation of powers to the grass root level. Another purpose was to support
the democracy and to create institutional approach to the implementation of the democracy. That is
why it was given priority above the general elections and first the local government system was placed.

The local government system of Zia‟s regime is basically a four tier system. Following are the salient
features of the system.

Structure

 Union Councils were created to serve in rural areas. Zila / District Councils
 Town Committees in Urban Areas.
 Municipal committees, metropolitan corporations were created in Karachi and Lahore only.
 All the above formations are based on the population and the number of the representatives
depends upon the population of the areas.

Role

 Fundamental purpose was to delegate power to the grass root level.

 Arbitration at local level
 Conciliation at local level
 Provision of basic facilities at local level
 For example: role of chairman of urban and union council is to act as, chairman of arbitration
under Muslim family ordinance of 1961 and chairman of conciliation court to settle criminal and
civil matters / disputes at local level.

Finance

 Federal grants
 Provincial grants
 From remunerative projects
 Through Levy of Taxes:
o Property tax
o Transfer of immoveable property tax
o Parking fee
o School fee
o Industrial and Agricultural Exhibition Fee