Pakistan Awami Tehreek has rejected the local bodies system of the Punjab government, saying that it would further widen the gulf between the people and bureaucracy.

Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi, central President of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), took a strong exception to the proposed system and added that the representatives elected under the local bodies system would be deprived of powers and would serve as rubberstamps to okay the doings of bureaucracy. He said that the local government system was all about devolution of power to the grass-roots where people felt really empowered to resolve their local issues at the local level.

Dr Raheeq Abbasi said that five-member committee of PAT had given a final shape to the recommendations regarding local bodies system. He said that the new system formulated by PAT would be presented before the media and masses after its approval by the party’s Central Working Council after Eid.

Dr Abbasi further said that the people elected to power under the corrupt electoral system had ingrained desire for concentration of power and a dominant streak for authoritarianism. “This explains why they have come up with a local bodies system, which will provide longevity to their power instead of empowering the people,” he added.