The present local government system was installed in 2001 for establishing genuine, sustainable democracy and durable governance but could not gain popularity with the masses due to certain shortcomings in the bottom lines of the system.
During the regime of General Pervez Musharraf (Retd), there was a transparent procedure for the release of funds through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (LG&RD). The Ministry forwarded the proposed schemes to the respective executing agencies for cost estimates/feasibility, admin approval and operation and maintenance certificate in order to release the funds.
The Ministry of LG&RD when received the above mentioned requirements, the case with immediate effect was forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for release of funds. The Ministry of Finance through Dy. Financial Advisor releases funds directly to the execution agencies to carry out and to submit the completion reports to this Ministry.
The Ministry of LG&RD had been entrusted with the implementation of People's Work Programme (PWP)-1 with the provision of Rs 4420 million in the PSDP 2008-09. Under the law, each parliamentarian could process the local government schemes within the ceiling of Rs 10 million.
However, the Ministry had complaints to the Finance Ministry for not releasing of the required funds for each MNA/Senator for execution of works by agencies identified by the Parliamentarians such as the Pak-PWD, provincial line departments/district government institutions and electricity/gas/telephone companies.
There were also some deficiencies pointed out in the system that were worthwhile, mentioned to discuss here.
Lack of Co-ordination: There were three different tiers in the Local Government (LG) System including Union Council Administration (UCA), Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) and District Government, City District Government in Metropolitan (CDG) had lacked co-ordination. What actually happened taxes were levied by the UCA and TMA at their respective localities without consultation of District Administration.
Lack of Supervision: There was no check and balance system found at any level in the Local Government System. For the last seven years, one could wonder that the system was operating without establishment of inspection power or judicial power. Likewise, TMA had also gone unchecked leading to corruption from top to bottom in the system. Sometimes audit conducted but everything became politicise and matters were bringing to settle at their initial stages.
Surplus officers and workers: LG System had surplus numbers of workers and officials comparing with the old magisterial system. It seemed that many employees were performing their jobs being little aware about the real boundaries of their working areas.
There were 12 EDO's (Executive District Officers) while numerous DDO's (Deputy District Officers) and DO's (District Officers) were currently befitted in the system. Notably, there were half numbers of officers were earlier performing their duties in the old magisterial system.
Particularly, low scale employees (Durja Charum) were not as much settled as high officials and they were remain under cloud. Their seniority was affected owing to undue administrative and political involvement.
Reduction of Power of DMG group: This system launched in Pervez Musharraf's regime widely slashed bureaucratic powers. We witnessed clearly that powers of Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners had been dispensed among DCOs, EDOs and DDOs "Officials have been reduced to just 'Superintendents' of their respective offices and their powers have largely been curtailed", said the Assistant Director of LG on the condition of anonymity.
He added that only conducting meeting after meeting resulted little output for any perspective. "Officials in the meeting always agree to disagree over the imposition of taxes and collecting the revenue from District, Tehsil and Union Council' levels", LG official remarked.
He also said these 'Superintendents' were assumed the in-charge of different departmental committees "but sadly they have no powers or nominal powers in their concerned areas". Earlier, in the old magisterial system, a magistrate, deputy commissioners or any duty officer had the absolute powers whether to control the law and order or to resolve different matters.
In nutshell, Bureaucracy had come under the control of District Nazims. This is evident that District Nazims themselves had assumed to write the Annual Confidential Report (ACR) of Bureaucracy.
Colossal power increase of Police department: Police was privileged to enjoy exclusive powers comparing with the past system. Again, there were large number of police officials including District Police Officers (DPO's), Chief Police Officers (CPO's), Regional Police Officers (RPO's) and many others.
Positions of Police officials were multiplied up to the degree that people confused to approach the concerned police official to redress their grievances. Therefore, it was required to reduce the number of police officials ranks, also made it more people friendly.
General Counsellor: General Counsellor- an unauthorised personal was infecting a basic unit of the local government system. Nevertheless "even UC Nazim regards it insult to consult with the counsellor", said an official of the Council to this scribe. Consequently, the counsellor remained insignificant while remaining in the system.
End of the magisterial system: Finally, with the end of the magisterial system led disarray among the masses. It was stated that no body was fully authorised to check the profiteering, hoarding and lawlessness as magistrate or any duty officer himself/herself could do.
Influence of local Politics: Influence of the local politics was cultivated among different departments in District, Tehsil and Union Council levels. Nazmins highly considered it their duty to interfere in the matters pertaining to the local government issues. Merits were largely violated and officers themselves perturbed in working with the Nazmins. District Nazims were habitual to employ their influences by patronising Union Nazims to nourish their stakes. Having aforesaid, there was wide sphere of improvement in all units of the system. Ministry of LG&Rural Development had clearly indicated to bring amendments in the system and sent a summary to high officials. There was a possibility that the fresh election of local government would be held after initiating improvements in it.