Lahore: A recent consultation organized by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) examined the implications of the Punjab Local Government Act 2025, drawing attention from local government experts, legislators, and civil society activists who questioned its alignment with constitutional guarantees of local self-government. Concerns were raised over the act's potential to centralize power, undermining the autonomy of local government entities.
According to Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, the consultation highlighted several key issues with the new law. Lawyer Sheikh Sibghat Ullah pointed out that the act appears to weaken Article 140A of the Constitution, which assures autonomous local governments, by making these bodies accountable to the provincial government rather than local citizens. HRCP treasurer Husain Naqi and elections expert Tahir Mehdi also expressed apprehensions about the re-centralization of authority and the limited role of elected representatives.
Local government expert Zahid Islam and HRCP director Farah Zia discussed potential improvements, such as ending the practice of indirectly electing key officeholders and holding simultaneous local, national, and provincial elections to reduce uncertainty. Concerns about representation and inclusion were also noted, with Aurat Foundation representative Nabila Shaheen and rights activist Samson Salamat critiquing the lack of guarantees for disadvantaged groups and the inclusion of faith-based declarations in governance.
The consultation also addressed the legislative process, with PTI representative Imtiaz Mehmood criticizing the expedited passage of the act and its impact on political party roles. HRCP Punjab vice-chair Raja Ashraf highlighted the historical challenges of contested elections in the country. The consensus among participants was that while local government is crucial for democratic governance and service delivery, the new act seems to centralize power rather than devolve it.