LAHORE – The Punjab Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a resolution calling on the federal government to introduce the 27th Constitutional Amendment, if necessary, to ensure that local governments in Pakistan are granted full administrative, financial, and political autonomy.
“There must be an open discussion on the issue of local governance,” said PA Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan while addressing a press conference in Lahore.
The PA speaker said that while the tenure of the Parliament and provincial assemblies is five years, citizens will lose faith in democracy if they do not see its benefits in their daily lives.
The resolution, passed unanimously in the Punjab Assembly, demands a constitutional amendment to include a new chapter making it mandatory to hold local government elections within a specified time frame. It also seeks to bar any political party from shortening the tenure of local governments.
The speaker pointed out that the Local Government Caucus in the Punjab Assembly is playing an active role, comprising 80 members, including 35 from the opposition.
The resolution stated that Article 140-A of the Constitution remains incomplete and that while provinces are obligated to establish local governments, the newly formed governments have often dissolved them instead of strengthening them. “It took three years just to frame a new local government law,” the resolution noted, adding that even in developed urban areas, basic civic issues like drainage and sanitation remain unresolved.
Malik Ahmad Khan stressed the need for constitutional guarantees ensuring that local body elections are held on schedule. “If the 27th Amendment is required to empower local governments, then it should be introduced immediately,” he said.
He further added that law and order is a fundamental responsibility of the government, recalling incidents of unrest in Faizabad and along Murree Road. “I have personally witnessed chaos where miscreants dug up roads and opened fire on police — this lawlessness must end,” he remarked.
Regarding political leadership, the speaker said he considers Maulana Fazlur Rehman a seasoned politician and respects his views. He added that the debate around the 27th Amendment has gained momentum and that “a powerless parliament is worse than no parliament at all.”
Malik Ahmad Khan emphasized that the local governments must receive constitutional protection to ensure genuine financial, political, and administrative independence. He confirmed that the Punjab Assembly has already forwarded comprehensive recommendations to the federal parliament and expressed hope that these proposals will be given due consideration.
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