BAGH (AJK): Jamila Khatoon, Central Joint Secretary of Pakistan Muslim League-N Azad Kashmir Women’s Wing, has emphasised that Local Bodies representatives should be granted full authority, as the system is the first step towards democracy.
She was of the view that until the Local Bodies system is given complete authority, people’s basic issues cannot be resolved. She pointed out that the Azad Kashmir government is forcing Local Bodies representatives to protest by failing to fulfill its promises.
Khatoon highlighted the significance of the Local Bodies system worldwide, citing examples from the US, and the UK, where development projects are executed through Local Bodies representatives, and leadership emerges from this system.
Jamila Khatoon emphasised the need for civil society to participate in the Local Bodies representatives’ movement, advocating for their empowerment to address the people’s grievances effectively.
She emphasised that the Local Bodies system is crucial for democracy, and its effectiveness gets compromised when Local Bodies representatives lack authority.
PML-N’s stance
PML-N believes in local bodies system. The last local government elections were held in AJK in three phases; on 27 November 2022 in Muzaffarabad division, 3 December 2022 in Poonch division and 8 December 2022 in Mirpur division. These local government elections were the first ones in more than three decades.
In phase-I, elections were held in three districts of Muzaffarabad division as Muzaffarabad, Neelum, and Jhelum Valley.
In phase-II, elections were held in the four districts of Poonch division as Poonch, Bagh, Haveli, and Sudhanoti. And in phase-III, elections were held in the Mirpur division’s three districts as Mirpur, Bhimber and Kotli.
The AJK Supreme Court had ordered the three-phase election in the mountainous region, which were held after at least a 31-year hiatus.
