By C.R. Akbar Shah
As part of it election campaign, Tehreek-e-Insaf had promised to hold local bodies elections in Gilgit-Baltistan. Initiation and timely completion of power projects and carrying out a strict accountability were another two promises it had made to public. However, non of the promises have been fulfilled despite a lapse of almost three years since it made its government in G-B.
In this article, I would like to talk about the status of local bodies system and successive government’s apathetic attitude towards transfer of powers to grassroots level in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Local body elections in G-B were last held during the regime of former President General Pervez Musharraf. In the post Musharaf era, the successive governments of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League (N) and now Tehreek-e-Insaaf could not hold municipal elections.
Absence of representative local government has led to shrinking public participation and bureaucratic hegemony. Funds of billions of rupees allocated for the local bodies are being wasted on bureaucratic luxuries and the dream of power devolution to the lower level has been shattered.
The so-called democratic parties of PPP, Muslim League-N and Tehreek-e-Insaf do not stop beating the rhetoric of the worst democracy being better than dictatorship. But, when it comes to G-B, these very parties have caused irreparable damage by deliberately avoiding the local bodies elections after the end of military regime. It would not be an exaggeration to say that they have colluded in usurping the funds allocated for local bodies.
Despite their loud claims and announcements, the successive governments in G-B could not pass the Local Government. Instead they have been fooling the people with fake promises lies. Today, new constituencies and local bodies election are the main issues. Unfortunately, the successive governments have done nothing on except serving party oriented politics and point scoring.
Local bodies elections are a continuation of a true democratic system. Its absence keeps people away from decision making and having their say in the way they are governed.
C.R. Akbar Shah
Population of G-B has increased manifold since 2008. New constituencies in proportion to the population, including an increase in G-B Assembly seats and administrative units, have become a necessary for smooth administration of the region.
In past, establishment and separation of departments had taken place. The following government of PML-N increased the administrative units. However, no attention was paid to new constituencies and increase in assembly seats. Like the previous regimes, the current provincial government seems unmoved when it comes to increase in the administrative units.
In view of increasing population, voter lists demand attention from both government and election commission of G-B. However, the role of the Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan also has been disappointing in this regard. According to the election commission, it is ready to hold local elections only after assembly passes local government act.
Like other parts of the country, it has been a fashion in G-B bashing the military rulers. But, the fact is that development work in G-B took place during the military regimes only. Right from the basic democracies system of General Ayub Khan to the reforms of General Pervez Musharraf, the region saw unprecedented development work. Unlike the military regimes, there were no Local bodies elections during the tenure of so called democratic parties of PPP, PNL-N and PTI.
People’s Party, Muslim League-N and Tehreek-e-Insaf are in favor of holding local bodies elections on party basis, and due to their poor performance, there is also a fear from within the party that the people may completely reject them in the local body elections.
C.R. Akbar Shah
One of the pretext behind the deadlock on local bodies elections in GB is requirement of huge amount of funds. The reality is otherwise, these elections need time, not a huge amount of funds as claimed by many.
Development work is duty of local government across the world. The parliaments are entrusted only with the responsibility of legislation. In contradiction to the world, development is a responsibility of assembly members in G-B without representative local government in existence. These members have wasted the development funds and failed in completing projects in the stipulated time period.
At this time, the entire country has come close to economic bankruptcy. The development and non-development budget allocated for Gilgit-Baltistan has been cut. The Gilgit-Baltistan government has got a good excuse to justify postponing the local bodies elections.
Given the severe winters, It is not possible to hold elections in upper areas due to severe cold after October till March. This has been another excuse why local elections could not be held this year despite getting approval from the cabinet. Elections do not seem possible even in 2023 due to the deteriorating economic and political conditions of Pakistan.
C.R. Akbar Shah is a prominent senior journalist, from Gilgit-Baltistan, associated with national and local newspapers. He also writes for Ibex Times as a regular columnist and investigative reporter.
