Local govt elections
Farhad Ali Qazi
The first phase of the local government elections has been completed in 17 districts including Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Khyber, Mohmand, Mardan, Swabi, Kohat, Karak, Hangu, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Haripur, Buner and Bajaur.
The second phase of the local govt elections is going to be held in January or March 2022. This could be helpful to strengthen democracy in the country. Such kind of activity should be held on a regular basis so it may maximize all the benefits of local bodies such as strengthened democratic values, transfer of power to the grassroots level, solve problems of the local people at their doorsteps, involve them in decision making and make them able to utilize their limited resources for their wellbeing and development.
Local govt elections are the elections of common people or in other words it is the election of poor and middle class in case of our country because every individual gets involved in this process directly or indirectly. According to a survey, Pakistan is 18th largest country in terms of middle class population globally. It means that more than 80pc of our population belongs to poor and middle class. The involvement of so many people in electoral process directly or indirectly may lead sometimes sour relations among them.
Obviously, every individual is supporting their candidates based on their party affiliations, friendships, relations and clans etc. This kind of zeal and passion has never been experienced in the elections of national and provincial assemblies. Because the general elections are the elections of the elites. We have experienced many incidences of torn relations among the people, their fight and exchange regrettable words to each other during election campaigns or after the elections. This kind of attitude does not suit to a civilized nation, especially to the people of Chitral.
Being a peaceful people, support your candidates humbly and objectively following the cultural and democratic values and take this election as the usual process of democracy. Never take it as the question of your honor or kin and kith. The selected member seated in tehsil assembly or district assembly can never increase your individual honor, wealth, knowledge, or property.
We can only be able to take benefits of the services of the selected member collectively or being united to solve our problems. We have many problems as every individual is familiar. We should not think how to help their candidates to secure seat but our approach should be who can help us or who is the best option to solve our issues. We must think to cast our vote for agenda not for personalities. I believe this is the true spirit of democracy.