PESHAWAR: Pakistan Peoples Party has accused the government of intentionally delaying the local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and warned that the party would take all possible steps for reforms in the system and holding of the polls at the earliest.

PPP provincial general secretary Faisal Karim Kundi, in a statement issued here on Wednesday alleged that the government was not extending cooperation to the Election Commission of Pakistan to announce schedule for the local government elections.

He said the non-seriousness on part of the rulers would cause irreparable damage to the democratic process at the grassroots’ level. He said the PPP would take all possible steps for devolution of power so that the people could take part in development of their respective localities.

Mr Kundi said on one hand Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leadership was taking credit for holding local government elections during its tenure, but on the other, the party was reluctant to defend its proposed law pending in court.

The PPP leader alleged that PTI had intentionally avoided reforms in the local government system because it was not in favour of elections. He said the PTI was taking advantage of its majority in the assembly to bulldoze the local government system.

He urged the government to take all the stakeholders on board and take pragmatic steps for holding of the local government elections to decentralise the powers in the best national interest.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2019