NAME: HAFIZ MIDRAR ULLAH

ROLL NO:25

PAPER: LOCAL GOVT. IN PAKISTAN

SUBMITTED TO: SIR HAFEEZ

2) Devolution of Power to lower tiers will strengthen democracy and improve governance in
Pakistan.

ANS:

It is widely perceived that devolution of power strengthens and deepens democracy in a

country. It is very important for a country like Pakistan having a diverse society of different
ethnicities to devolve its power to lower tiers. However, the case in Pakistan is quite
different. Many scheme of devolution of power has been introduced yet in Pakistan by both
military and political leadership, but it has further exacerbated the problem of governance.
Under all the three marital law rules, military dictators had laid a strong emphasis on
devolution of power to the lower tiers in Pakistan but they used it to further their vested
interests. Similarly, in post Musharaf ear, the institution of local government became the
provincial subject but political leadership pave very little heed towards it. If Pakistani
leadership really want to strengthen its democracy and remove grievances of different
segments of the society, it is imperative to devolve the power to grass root level.

Devolution of power generally means to delegation of power of central government to

subnational level. In today’s world, state possesses huge territories and larger population. So
it is very important for a government to devolve its power to local tiers in order to reach out
the people at local level. Similarly, states are also composed of different ethnic and
geographic group who also desire particular amount of autonomy. Local government is
considered to the nursery of democracy where both people and local receive awareness about
their rights, duties and political participation. Local government on one hand helps leaders of
political parties to reach the citizens at local level and campaign for election. On the other
hand, it provides people with an opportunity to raise make listen their problems by
government and demand social amenities at door step from the government.

Unfortunately, since the inception of Pakistan, Pakistan is run by an authoritarian style of

government. Initially, it was the constitutional crisis that hindered the democratic evolution in
the country. Later on, it was the successive military interventions that aided to the burning
fuel and restricted the role of local government to mere an instrument into the hands of
military dictators to legitimize their martial laws. Similarly, Z.A Bhutto also favored an
authoritarian style of governance and paved little heed toward devolution of power. the latter,
civilian government on 1990s were too to introduce a comprehensive scheme of devolution
of power.

Pakistan got its first ever constitution after a long wait of nine year in 1956. But soon it was
followed by military intervention of Ayub khan. Although, he introduced a non-party local
government setup with the name of Basic Democracies, but he turned it into an electoral
college for the election of president and legislative assembly. In fact, the main purpose
behind his BD system was to legitimize and prolong his martial rule, and destroy the party
system of Pakistan. Eventually, it was his authoritarian style of government that resulted in
later mass protest and the 1971 dismemberment of Pakistan. In the like way, Zia ul Haq also
use it as an instrument to legitimize his dictatorship.

In the beginning of 21st century, General Musharaf introduced a vigorous and comprehensive
scheme devolution of power in Pakistan. However, soon the reality surfaced that much
similar to his predecessors, he also manipulated the elections of local government for his
vested political interest. Although, he empowered the local bodies above bureaucrats, but he
continued to control the country with highly centralized government. He completely, bypass
the provincial tier and devolved powers to local bodies which was fatal for a country in itself.

In post Musharaf era, the local government became a provincial subject with the courtesy of
18tj amendment and subsequently all the abolished the local government setup formerly
introduced by Mushared. Popularly known for resistance to change, the bureaucracy
delightfully accepted the change. Then onward, all the provinces have established the their
institutions of local government but they pave very little heed to devolve it the real power in
true sense.
Although, Pakistan is passing through the process of democratic evolution, but it is essential
for it to devolve greater powers to lower tiers. The devolution of power to the local tiers will
help Pakistan to maintain its unity and prevent other tragedies like the tragedy of 1971.
Similarly, it would help to flourish a democratic culture in people of Pakistan where they
would participate in political affairs. It would create awareness among the people regarding
their rights and duties. Moreover, it would help people to raise their issues and avail social
amenities at their door step.

In a nut shell, it is very important for any democracy to be a durable to devolve its power to
the local tiers. It would strengthen national unity, deepen democracy and remove grievances
of various segments of society. Pakistan had experienced various scheme of devolution of
power, but they were primarily used as instrument to legitimize military dictatorships. Today,
Pakistan is passing through its democratic evolution and it is very much expected that soon,
the institution of local government will be strengthened in Pakistan. But a serious and holistic
approach and vision on the part of political leadership is required.