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Awami assemblies to ensure

public opinion on devolution

of power, says Jabbar

MULTAN: A series of Awami assemblies will be held across the country to ascertain the public opinion pertaining to devolution of power and its modalities to local level, which is the foremost priority of the present government.

This was stated by Javed Jabbar, Adviser to the Chief Executive on National Affairs and Information and Media Development while addressing Rural Awami Assembly held at Chak 133-L, Mianchannu on Sunday.

The assembly finalised its recommendations regarding devolution of power to local level. A presentation was made before Javed Jabbar, and Federal Minister for Local Bodies and Rural Development Omar Asghar Khan.

Besides, a number of villagers, women and representatives from 200 NGOs, the Awami Assembly was also attended by noted columnist Munnoo Bhai, Economist and Professor in Bahauddin Zakariya University Prof Dr Karamat, Dr Karim Malik, NGO representatives Niaz Ahmed Kathia, Father Younis Aalem and Father Bony Mandes, Executive Director of Aurat Foundation Mrs Nigar and a Unesco representative.

The 2-day Rural Awami Assembly, arranged in collaboration with NGOs SPO, 'Dehaat Dost Tanzeem', 'Kissan Sanjh', concluded on Sunday.

Recommendations were formulated after in depth discussions by the people during the 2-day session on various sectors including economy, health, education, political system, social justice and gender equality in villages, tehsil and district level under the framework of devolution of power.

Addressing the concluding session Javed Jabbar said that accelerated efforts were required to produce competent and trained people at the local level, particularly in rural areas, who could run the affairs efficiently after devolution of power took place in the country.

He stressed on the active involvement of women in the political system.

He, however advised the future leaders to maintain transparency in all the affairs after assuming power and authority.

He also praised Umar Asghar Khan's idea that regional press can have check over government at village, tehsil and district level.

Jabbar said, "It is an irony that in a constituency of 10,000 voters, one candidate represents all the people after taking 3,000 votes while remaining three candidates though defeated by a marginal difference were denied their representation.

He said that representation of all people should be assured and in his view this could be done if those candidates who take 10 percent votes are given the right to represent people. This is a kind of electoral system on proportional representation.

He invited people to think over it and put forward their suggestions.

Jabbar said that it was the success of this government that before completion of its 100 days it has taken steps for restoring democratic system at local level.

Addressing the audience Umar Asghar Khan said that Awami Assembly has produced some useful recommendations and supported the idea of rural assemblies at village level. However, this is yet to be decided that how people could be represented in this assemblies.

He also talked about a Rural Markaz Council between a union council and a tehsil and added that we are thinking about taxation in the villages for generating revenues.

He said that a national level assembly of on the same pattern would be held at Islamabad to take a decision in the light of recommendations from across the country about the modalities of the system.

He said that political parties will be required to hold party elections and decision regarding awarding ticket to a candidate should be taken by party leadership at lower level.

He said that we will make sure that voice of a common man was heard in the assembly.

Omar Asghar Khan said that after having detailed information about this, the government, by the mid of current year, will have a clear picture of this plan pertaining to devolution of power to people.

Main recommendations of the assembly after discussions are as follows village development councils (VDCs) be formed across the country to run the affairs of the village regarding economy by generating revenue through taxes and taking care of all other sectors including health, education. A village should have a population of 5000 people. The Panchayat system should also be introduced.ÑAPP