ISLAMABAD: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) held a consultation on strengthening local governments, advocating for a constitutional amendment to Article 140A. The event, held in collaboration with civil society organization Dehleez, brought together legislators, policymakers, and activists to discuss HRCP’s proposed policy paper.
Farah Zia, Director of HRCP, opened the program by highlighting the historically uneven treatment of local governments in Pakistan. While dictatorships tended to favor them, democratically elected governments haven’t always prioritized their role. She emphasized the need for a stronger constitutional framework to ensure their stability and effectiveness.
Zafarullah Khan, a civic educator and researcher at HRCP, presented the proposed amendment. He elaborated on the concept of devolution in successful federal democracies, many of which have robust local government systems enshrined in their provincial constitutions. Khan stressed the importance of guaranteeing regular local government elections through a constitutional amendment. This, he argued, is essential for ensuring citizen representation and responsiveness at the local level.
The proposal received endorsements from several participants. PML-N MNA Bilal Kiyani supported the idea of an amendment to guarantee local government continuity. He expressed hope that dedicated parliamentary committees would give it serious consideration. AWP’s Farman Ali highlighted the need for parallel reforms within political parties to strengthen local governance alongside constitutional amendments.
Representatives from other parties, including PPP’s Sibte Haider Bukhari and FAFEN’s Rashid Chaudhry, echoed the importance of empowering local governments and called for further consultations on the proposed amendment.
HRCP council member Farhatullah Babar proposed the creation of a local government law specific to Islamabad. This, he argued, could serve as a model for other provinces. He further suggested tying provincial allocations from the National Finance Commission award to the adoption of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and local government empowerment initiatives. Additionally, Babar advocated for quotas to ensure diverse representation in local government elections, including women, religious minorities, youth, and people with disabilities.
Concluding the event, HRCP Secretary-General Harris Khalique stressed the need to streamline local government bureaucracy. He reiterated HRCP’s commitment to fostering public and political support for the proposed amendment through ongoing discussions.
Also Read: Tracing the Evolution of Free Speech: A Historical Journey from Ancient Laws to Modern Challenges
