06 November 2004	Saturday	22 Ramazan 1425

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LAHORE, Nov 5: The process of local elections in the Punjab is likely to be started from March and completed by August, provincial secretary-general of the ruling PML said here on Friday.

Chaudhry Zaheeruddin indicated while talking to Dawn that a number of changes could be made to the system of local government to make it more responsive to the present-day requirements.

The existing system was given by the National Reconstruction Bureau after discussions at the national level. However, during the past four years it has been felt that the system needs changes. According to Mr Zaheeruddin, the number of councillors is likely to be reduced and the constituencies may be redemarcated for the convenience of the candidates as well as voters.

He said the panel system was likely to be dispensed with after which nazims and deputy nazims would contest the elections separately. Another proposal under consideration was to hold the elections for union councils on non-party basis and for higher tiers on party basis.

The purpose of two modes was to prevent unneccesary confrontation at the lower tiers and keep the national fibre intact, he said. Final decision on these proposals would be taken during the next six weeks, Mr Zaheeruddin said.

He claimed that during the past four years the PML had strengthened itself all over the province and was now in a position to win the local elections easily. Already, he said, the party was controlling 28 of the 34 districts of the Punjab.

The situation in the remaining districts had also improved during the past few years and now the PML was able to sweep the local elections. In response to a question, the PML leader said his party would prefer to take other pro-Musharraf parties along in the local elections.

"Parties supporting the agenda of President Musharraf would be accommodated in the local elections", he said. Answering another question, the PML secretary-general said district nazims who gave a better performance during the current term could be retained for another term.

However, he said, a final decision on the subject would be taken at the time of elections. Mr Zaheeruddin said the party had already given instructions to the relevant leaders to start selecting suitable candidates for the next local elections. Capability and integrity of candidates would be the major considerations at the time of selection of candidates, he added.