Punjab Govt is not ready to hold election by November:Raja Basharat

Lahore: Despite direction of the Supreme Court, neither the Punjab Govt was undertaking necessary legislation regarding local bodies election nor ready to hold the election by November, PML Punjab parliamentary party will submit a private bill in the Provincial Assembly, the govt was causing loss to the national exchequer and wasting time of the House through defective legislation.

This was stated by PML Punjab Senior Vice-President and former Provincial Law and Local Govt Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja while talking to the party MPAs at the Muslim League House here.

Muhammad Basharat Raja said the Punjab Govt do not want to hold local bodies elections and for this had made defective legislation and court orders were not being implemented regarding holding of the local polls. He said that the govt performance regarding legislation was quite disappointing and many provisions being declared as being against the Constitution by the court was a clear proof of that. He said that lacunas have intentionally been in the Local Govt Ordinance which would have adversely effected the working of the local bodies with the passage of time.

He said in the Local Govt Ordinance, functions of the Vice-Chairman, matters about Town Committee, Food Control and Prices Control mechanism, function of Arbitrary Committee and caretaker set on the local bodies completion of their constitutional tenure have not been mentioned which were necessary and our private members bill will include all these matters.

Continuing Muhammad Basharat Raja said that the Punjab Govt was pursuing a policy of wasting national wealth and time through defective legislation, earlier on Provincial Election Authority, Sasti Roti Authority like defective legislation was done which in their own tenure have lost their utility and become ineffective. He said that authorities established at the provincial and district levels for health and education were in conflict with the Constitution and against the spirit of 18th Constitutional Amendment and on the other hand very important legislation was not being done for provision of free and compulsory education under Article 25 A of the Constitution.

He further said that appointment of Information Officers in the departments within 60 days of the Right to Information Bill was the legal requirement which has not been fulfilled even after lapsing of 60 days nor its secretariat has so far been established. He said despite law being the people were being denied the legal right of access to the information.

Sounding a warning, he said PML Punjab will not remain silent regarding extra-constitutional attitude of the Punjab Govt regarding legislation and play its full and effective role inside and outside the legislature.