LAHORE: In Punjab, the most populous province in Pakistan, a new local government bill gives unelected deputy commissioners (DCs) broad authority, excluding elected officials and igniting concerns about a democratic backsliding.
The measure, which was introduced by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the Punjab Assembly on March 7, is presently being reviewed by a standing committee. Both opposition politicians and ruling party members have criticized the bill.
According to legal experts, the measure violates Pakistan’s constitution’s Article 140A, which calls for the transfer of authority to elected local governments. Others worry that the law is intended to stop influential mayors from opposing political parties from becoming more dominant.
