LAHORE : Highlighting a growing governance deficit across the province, civil society organizations HomeNet Pakistan (HNP) and AWAZCDS-Pakistan Development Alliance (AWAZCDS-PDA) issued a joint press release calling for the immediate scheduling of local government elections in Punjab. Speaking at a media briefing at the Lahore Press Club, Executive Director Ume Laila Azhar urged on Thursday that constitutional authorities to announce an official election timeline within 15 days to restore democratic governance at the grassroots level.
Addressing press representatives, the speakers noted that the prolonged absence of elected local bodies has severely weakened democratic participation and public accountability. They emphasized that without functional local institutions, citizens remain cut off from decision-making processes that directly affect their daily lives, municipal services, and community development needs.
She added that choosing local representatives through free, fair, and timely elections is a fundamental democratic right recognized under international human rights standards and the principles of the United Nations Charter. Representatives asserted that all civic stakeholders share a responsibility to advocate for grassroots democracy and protect the public’s right to participate in local affairs.
Citing legal obligations, the organizations stressed that Article 140A of the Constitution of Pakistan mandates provincial governments to establish elected local government systems with meaningful political, administrative, and financial authority. They highlighted that full implementation of this constitutional requirement is indispensable for strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring transparent governance throughout Punjab.
Highlighting the practical benefits of decentralization, the briefing pointed out that functional municipal bodies enhance the oversight, delivery, and planning of essential local services such as sanitation, public health, water, and infrastructure. Empowering local institutions also enables provincial leadership to focus on long-term policy reforms and province-wide economic priorities rather than routine neighborhood management.
HNP and AWAZCDS-PDA outlined a comprehensive set of demands for the local government framework, emphasizing regular transparent elections, institutional stability, and predictable fiscal resources. Crucially, they advocated for guaranteed, inclusive representation for marginal⁷ized groups, including women, youth, workers, religious minorities, and persons with disabilities.
Concluding the address, the rights organizations called upon the Government of Punjab, the Election Commission of Pakistan, political parties, provincial lawmakers, civil society, and the media to unite in establishing a functional local government system. They urged news outlets to actively foster public debate on democratic decentralization, driving transparency and citizen engagement across the province.
In media briefing key representatives including Umme Laila Azhar (HomeNet Pakistan), Tauqeer Sadiq (Jaago Tehreek), Chaudhry Akhtar Abbas, Riffat Maqsood (Taameer-e-Nau), Nabila Shaheen (Aurat Foundation), Malik Zafar (Awaz Foundation), Atiya Hanif (AWAZCDS-PDA), and local lady councilor Azra Parveen were presented.
Reported By I Staff Reporter I Lahore
