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Dist level polls should be on party basis: Qadri

JALIL HASAN AKHTAR

Lahore: Prof Tahir-ul-Qadri has said bifurcation of authority to the grass root level would be beneficial for the country in the long run but GDA would like elections at district level to be held on party basis.

Speaking to the Business Recorder after a two-day meeting of District Government Committee on Monday, he, however said if the government was adamant to hold these elections as according to its will then political persons should not be debarred from contesting these elections.

He pointed that if the government wanted to hold district government elections on the system of proportional representation, then it would be better if these elections were held on party basis, he added.

Qadri said the government must ensure that there would be no undue interference from police and other authorities in these elections. This will be in the best interest of democracy, he maintained.

He said that GDA was in favour of granting financial, administrative autonomy to the district governments adding that they had sent a 50-page suggestion to GDA leadership to finalise their policy decision on district government elections.

He stated that the age of chief mayor of the district assembly should be 35-year and must be a post-graduate.