LAHORE, April 14: Claiming that the PML-Q government wants to strengthen the existing local government system by removing flaws in it, Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has said those trying to create a friction between the local bodies and provincial legislators are deliberately trying to destabilize democracy.

Describing such people as “enemies of democracy”, the chief minister on Monday told Nazims and Naib Nazims from different districts of the Punjab that the PML-Q government considered the local government system as an effective means for solving public problems and development.

He said the local bodies were also the best means to allow public participation in the affairs of the government. For these reasons, he said, the government would solve the problems of the local bodies and make it stronger and more effective. He said the reforms introduced by President Musharraf would continue.

The district governments had been given complete financial autonomy for ensuring effective working. Besides, he said, the districts were also being handed over management of water and sanitation.