The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has announced to introduce a new local bodies system next week for Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Balochistan and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
"Local bodies' elections will be held within next two to three months in the country and we are transferring maximum powers to the district, village, tehsil and union councils," Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Naeem-ul-Haq expressed these views on Wednesday while talking to the media in front of Parliament House.
He said a draft of the bill for new local bodies system has almost been prepared which will be introduced in the Parliament for legislation. "We will give historic powers at grassroots level by changing the district and tehsil system to facilitate the people," he claimed.
Answering a question, he said the negotiations with opposition parties regarding the new local bodies' bill are underway and the PTI would try to convince Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to support the bill.
He said, "We are not rolling back the 18th Constitutional Amendment and are giving maximum powers to the provinces as well as district, city, tehsil and union councils." He said if the governance system is changed then lesser problems would be reported across the country.
He said the local bodies' representatives would utilize development funds on the welfare of people of their areas to provide them relief. Answering to another question, the special assistant to the prime minister said the PTI would fully participate in by-elections on October 14. He said PTI would not only win election in Lahore but also across the country.
He said Pakistan is facing economic crisis and the PTI government is taking steps to overcome it. Answering another question about controversial statement of PML-N leader Rana Mashhood, he said PML-N should stop dreaming about coming into power in future.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shah Farman while taking to the media in front of the Parliament House said, "We would soon introduce a new local bodies system in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including erstwhile FATA.
He said it is good news for the people of tribal areas. He said, "We would introduce the best local body system in tribal area to provide maximum facilities to the people." He said local bodies' election would soon be held in tribal areas.
Later, about controversial statement of PML-N leader Rana Mashhood, former Law Minister of Punjab Rana Sanaullah categorically denied any deal of PML-N with establishment. He claimed that PML-N settles all matters in the Parliament. He claimed that political cases are made against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and the future of these ceases is nothing. "What has been stated by Rana Mashhood is his desire. Sometime, the people make news of their desire," he said.