Local bodies to get more powers in Pakistan
By Nasreen Aslam - Pakistan Times Staff Correspondent

LAHORE: The government will give priority to those candidates in the elections of the District and Town Nazims, apart from the ones already supported by the PML, who have good reputation, have contributed to the regional development and have comprehension of the Local Government system so that the process of development, actual rationale behind the system, can be accelerated.

This was decided during the meeting of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, with PML Supremo Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi after extensive deliberation over the second phase of the Local Bodies’ elections.

The issues of organisational and political strength and reforms of the PML and the taking the PML members and officebearers into confidence on various matters also came under discussion. Both sides took each other into confidence on issues of national import. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had gone to meet the PML President Ch Shujaat Hussain at his residence on Sunday.

Shujaat Elucidates

After the meeting Ch Shujaat said that it was their decision to give the post of District Nazim with enhanced powers to those who had good repute and were committed to the development of their areas.

He said that in order to nip corruption at every level the accountability process would also be enhanced. He also informed The Nation that in order to alleviate the differences between the government MNAs and the party office bearers he would commence his nationwide itinerary on August-30 from Rahim Yar Khan.

Replying to the allegations of rigging leveled by the opposition he said that had such an activity taken place the relations of the ministers should not have lost in the elections. Those who leveling such allegations were only suffering from mental confusion and nothing else, he added.

The Next Step

In the next step the general elections would take place and for this purpose in order to start preparations and to develop manifesto a committee under the chairmanship of Senator SM Zafar had been instituted. He hoped that through the manifesto and the services of the party for the common good PML would also win the general elections with the same spirit.

Discussing the credibility of the LB elections he said that there could be no better proof of the election’s credibility than the fact that all parties took part in them. He also challenged the opposition to fulfil its desire to launch a popular movement against the government.

Talking about the MMA’s threat he said that if the MMA leadership was serious it should instead launch a movement aimed at national reconciliation and consensus. Talking about the meeting with the premier he said that the consultative process hence keeps moving on and the same spirit of consultation would be displayed in the 2007 elections.

Discussing the recent slanderous campaign against the Quaid-e-Azam he said that any derogatory statement against the Quaid was tantamount to playing with the emotions of the people of the country and that he had suggested to the President that the box related to the declaration of sects should be abolished from all forms.●