NA Law Committee calls for strengthening local governments, sends amendment to ministry for review

A meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice, chaired by MNA Bashir Virk, underscored the urgent need to empower local governments, calling for political will and structural reforms to decentralise authority in line with the spirit of the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

The committee reviewed the proposed amendment regarding the establishment of local governments and decided to refer it to the Ministry of Law for further deliberation. The debate featured candid admissions and strong criticism of successive governments’ failure to devolve power effectively.

PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan emphasised that while the 18th Amendment was meant to transfer authority from Islamabad to the people, provincial governments failed to follow through. “The provinces did not transfer power to local governments,” he said, adding that this failure forces citizens from remote areas like Quetta to raise their grievances with federal authorities due to a lack of local representation.

Khan lamented the political manipulation of development funds, stating, “If there is a PTI government in a province, the funds will be spent only where PTI wants.” He stressed that “without functioning local bodies, peace cannot return to Quetta and Karachi.”

Barrister Aqeel echoed similar sentiments, saying, “We do not want to build streets and drains, but we are forced to because there is no local government system.”

The committee also engaged in a broader discussion on the limitations of the 18th Amendment. “It is not divine scripture,” said Ali Muhammad Khan. “It’s a man-made law, and after 15 years, it’s time we reassess whether powers were really transferred to the people.” He proposed a parliamentary discussion on which powers should remain with the provinces and which should be reclaimed or restructured.

Committee members also expressed grave concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Balochistan. Chairman Bashir Virk strongly condemned the recent killings of children and said such incidents threaten the province’s future. MNA Alia Kamran highlighted alarming incidents, including the abduction of an entire passenger bus and a drone strike that killed three children. “We cannot even travel freely in Balochistan,” she said.

The committee agreed that despite repeated political promises, local government elections have consistently been delayed, often only held under military regimes. “No political government, including ours, conducted local government elections,” Ali Muhammad Khan admitted. “Everyone has washed their hands in this Ganga.”

Committee members called for political maturity and consensus to revive and strengthen local governments, which they said are essential for true democratic governance and national unity.

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori