LAHORE: Fundamental changes in the state structure and its guiding assumptions alone can save the fast deterioration in governance.

This is the conclusion of a preliminary report on a new social contract for Pakistan, prepared by a group of citizens - Chaukas - that examined state’s afflictions for over a year and found, what they called, workable solutions.

Dr Mubashir Hasan, IA Rehman, Hasan Jaffar Zaidi, Dr Sajjad Naseer, Reza Ali, Khalid Mehboob, Saroop Ijaz, Dr Yaqoob Bangash, Najamul Sahar Attaullah and Mian Nasir Mahmood are the members of Chaukas.

Dr Mubashir told a news conference at the Lahore Press Club on Tuesday that Chaukas would present its views on the issues left out in the preliminary report.

He said the group had discussed the issues such as absence of law and order, prevalence of near anarchy in parts of the country, external threats, widespread corruption and blatant violations of human rights, along with the current social and economic situation.

“We’ve come to the conclusion that fast deterioration in governance is irreversible and that fundamental changes in the state structure and its guiding assumptions alone can save the situation,” he said, adding the report proposed the authority of the federal government be limited to external affairs, defence, communications, currency, State Bank, import/export, elections, nationality and immigration, and collection of income tax and customs duties.

“The provinces should exercise power over all matters not included in the jurisdiction of the federal government and the citizens’ governments. The mandate of the council of common interests should be broadened. Citizens’ governments at village, town, city, and district levels should be responsible for protection of life and property and maintaining citizens’ justice and police systems. All local governments should consist of elected councils,” the report said.

It proposed a new national tax agency for each province to collect taxes and their simultaneous disbursement to federal, provincial and local governments. “The system of criminal justice has failed. A criminal act must not be considered an offence against the direct victims only it should also be treated as an offence against society. The community should be made a party to the justice delivery system, by accepting the principle of trial by peers (jury). The system of mediation/ or reconciliation can also be tried except for cases of murder and brutality against women.”

It says policing at the level of village/cluster, small town should be the responsibility of citizens’ government. “All agricultural, industrial and commercial holdings, accumulated capital, properties, and inherited assets should be counted as wealth and taxed”, reads the report.

Mr Rehman said power had not completely been transferred to the provinces under the 18th Amendment. “People needs to be empowered and devolution of power should be ensured for the purpose,” he said, adding while the Centre was not fully transferring power to the provinces, the provinces did not seem to ready devolve power to the district governments.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2016