'Local government system would not be dissolved'

Existing local government system would not be dissolved because this system was introduced for decentralisation of power and President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani have already given their verdict that the present local government (LG) system will prevail but some deficiencies in the system will be removed, National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) spokesman said.
"There are no plans to roll back the LG system, however, some improvements would be made in order to facilitate people at the grassroots level," he said. An important meeting with the law ministry was held in Islamabad on Monday with the NRB chairman and other senior LG officers, to discuss two important issues - the magistracy system and reviewing the Police Order.
The meeting held deliberations on the shape of old commissioner system for which constitutional amendments were required and the law ministry suggested the legal part of this magistracy system.
Besides, the meeting also discussed Police Order-2001 and the law ministry and came up with recommendations as to how they could clamp a check and balance in the police since the police at present have been enjoying sweeping powers. These two issues have discussed as all the four provinces and people have been demanding that old commissioner system be brought back in the country.
He said that the NRB was working to facilitate the people through the LG system and it was also keeping a close liaison with the prime minister's committee comprising chief ministers and chief secretaries of four provinces as well as political parties, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). He said that the NRB would make a final draft on the LG issue in consultation with the PM's committee and it would be send to the President for approval. He further said that the present LG system was protected under the Sixth Schedule till November and not April, 2009.