Islamabad, In a significant move toward reinforcing local governance in Pakistan, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has presented a policy paper advocating for a constitutional amendment to Article 140A. The proposal, aimed at ensuring more robust constitutional protection for local governments, was debated at a consultation held in collaboration with Dehleez on May 30, 2024.
According to Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, the event saw participation from legislators, policymakers, and members of civil society who discussed the necessity and implications of the proposed amendment. HRCP’s director Farah Zia opened the consultation by highlighting the historical challenges faced by local governments in Pakistan, which have often been supported under dictatorships but neglected by democratic regimes. This backdrop has prompted the call for enhanced constitutional safeguards.
Zafarullah Khan, a civic educator and the researcher behind HRCP’s policy paper, detailed the proposed amendments which include specifying periods for local government elections to ensure continuity and responsiveness to citizens’ needs. Drawing comparisons with other federations that support devolved powers through provincial constitutions, Khan underscored the critical nature of these reforms for effective local governance in Pakistan.
The consultation also featured insights from political figures such as PML-N MNA Bilal Kiyani, who supported the constitutional amendment, suggesting that it could lead to the establishment of more consistent local government structures through standing committees and caucuses. Meanwhile, AWP’s Farman Ali stressed the importance of democratizing political parties as part of strengthening local governance.
Contributions from other participants included PPP representative Sibte Haider Bukhari and FAFEN National Coordinator Rashid Chaudhry, both of whom affirmed the urgent need for strengthening local governmental frameworks and called for continued dialogue on the topic.
HRCP council member Farhatullah Babar proposed specific measures such as enacting a local government law for Islamabad that could serve as a model for other provinces. He also suggested linking the provincial share of the national finance commission award with the adoption of the UN SDG goals and the empowerment of local governments as an incentive mechanism. Additionally, Babar advocated for ensuring quotas for women, religious minorities, youth, people with disabilities, and transgender individuals in local government elections.
The session concluded with remarks from HRCP Secretary-General Harris Khalique, who emphasized the need to de-bureaucratize local government and reaffirmed HRCP’s commitment to rallying both political and public support for the constitutional amendment in forthcoming discussions.