Leaders of Awam Dost Pakistan Tuesday strongly criticized the Punjab Local Government Act 2025, calling it contrary to democratic values, local autonomy, and the principles of public representation.
In a joint statement, Chairman Farukh Sohail Goindi and Secretary General Dr Ashraf Nizami expressed deep reservations over the legislation, recently passed by the Punjab Assembly, saying it strengthened bureaucracy and central control instead of empowering local communities.
“Local government is the closest and most effective representative institution of the people in any democratic society,” the statement read.
“Unfortunately, the law transfered power upward rather than downward, empowering bureaucrats instead of elected representatives.”
They added that the new act gives only symbolic powers to local councils, depriving them of financial and administrative autonomy.
“Placing elected representatives under unelected officers is an insult to the very concept of local governance,” they said.
Awam Dost Pakistan called for immediate reforms to safeguard democratic representation and local empowerment.
The party’s key demands include, granting constitutional status to local governments, ensuring financial, administrative, and legislative autonomy for elected representatives, conducting timely and transparent local government elections and strengthening local institutions to effectively address public needs and community issues.
Prof Dr Ashraf Nizami reaffirmed the party’s commitment to promoting grassroots democracy and raising public awareness about citizens’ fundamental rights.
“Awam Dost Pakistan will continue its struggle for local democratic empowerment and will mobilize the people to stand up for their constitutional rights,” Nizami asserted.