President General Pervez Musharraf on Thursday said changes in the local government laws have been enacted to make the system more efficient and they do not in any way undermine principles of democracy at the grassroots level. He described the introduction of democracy at the grassroots level as a proud achievement on which he would never compromise.
"The local government laws have not been changed so as to betray the principles behind their enactment, nor have I surrendered to reactionary forces - surrender has never been part of my personality," he emphasised.
The President was commenting on emails received at his official website - www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk - regarding recent changes in the local government system and timing of the local government polls.
He recalled that the government introduced democracy at the grassroots level for the first time in the history of Pakistan.
"This is an achievement of which I am immensely proud and one which I would never compromise."
However, the President added what needs to he remembered though is that every political system ultimately belongs to the people governed by it.
"The current local government system is not simply 'my' system; it belongs to the people of Pakistan. If the system is to take roots and flourish then the people of Pakistan must be allowed the right to change and modify the system in the manner that they see fit."
No system, he underscored, can be static.
Instead, it must respond at all times to the needs of the people and demands of the hour, he added.
The local government system has had many successes, he said, but pointed out there are also areas in which it requires improvement.
For example, when the system was initiated, it was found that there were genuine problems in reconciling roles of district governments and the provincial government, he illustrated.
The key issue was the relationship between the zila nazim and the chief minister, which was becoming unnecessarily adversarial.
"Such disputes were affecting the resolution of the common man's issues and delivery of services to the people," he said.
The government, therefore, felt that it was necessary to provide a more balanced approach with respect to the division of powers between the zila nazim and the chief minister, he said.
Sharing his view on the amendments, President Musharraf said these provide for the consolidation of the local governments in light of difficulties faced in their functioning.
The amendments aim at empowering the local government by vesting the authority for efficiency and discipline of officials at the local level, he said. Earlier, this used to be vested in the provincial government. Secondly, to end friction over control of officials in the local government, the district service and the tehsil administrative service will be created later this year, he said.
Thirdly, he added, provincial government departments will be restructured to shed executive that have been devolved and perform only regulatory functions such as setting and maintaining standards, making rules, special audits and periodic inspections, coordination and legislation.
Fourthly, the local government commission and the provincial finance commission have been strengthened by providing for separate secretariats and budgets.
Continuing, the President said while these major authorities and responsibilities have been passed onto the local governments, provincial governments have been empowered with checks and balances.
Dilating on the subject, the President said while the day-to-day functioning will completely rest in the local governments for devolved functions, thus, ending the ongoing friction. The provincial government may intervene in an institutional manner to check mal-administration.
"Orders of the chief minister will have to be made in light of the recommendations of the commission and, therefore, cannot be whimsical and motivated," he remarked.
In fact, he pinpointed, the opposition leader of the provincial assembly is also represented in the local government commission,
Moreover, he added, the commission has a secure four-year tenure and, thus, is not susceptible to influence.
On the timing of the local government polls, the President made it clear that these would not be delayed.
"I believe in holding elections on time, according to the provisions of the constitution and the applicable laws.
"If we accede to demands of various segments of political spectrum, we will invariably be compromising and weakening the democratic system. We have made our choice, now we need to have the strength of character to live with the results of those choices."
About allegations of corruption against certain members of the local governments, he said, the solution is not to delay the polls.
"Instead, the solution is for the people of Pakistan to exercise their right of vote in a manner, which weeds out the corrupt and holds them accountable.
"In the end, the choice is theirs. That is what democracy is all about.
On National Accountability Bureau cases, he said these will process independently but this should not be used as an excuse to delay the polls.
"In the end, democracy is both a system as well as a process. We need to let the process of democratic renewal continue. So long as the sanctity of the system as a whole is not threatened, we must be patient with it and what it produces in the end. That is the only way that genuine democracy can take root, he said, wrapping up his comment.
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