DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa North Ameer and former senior provincial minister Inayatullah Khan has rejected the recently passed private member bill regarding local government institutions in the provincial assembly, alleging that the legislation was aimed at delaying local government elections in the province.
Addressing a press conference at Peshawar Press Club (PPC) along with JI KP Central Ameer Abdul Wasee, Inayatullah Khan claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had quietly passed the bill under the supervision of the KP Assembly speaker without informing the public. He said the legislation could lead to the postponement of local government elections for an indefinite period due to proposed changes, including a reduction in local government constituencies and fresh delimitations.
Inayatullah Khan demanded that the Election Commission of Pakistan take notice of the matter and ensure that local government elections are held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the earliest. He alleged that the PTI was avoiding local elections due to fear of defeat. The JI leader warned that if the provincial government did not withdraw the bill, his party would approach the provincial assembly and launch a protest movement after August.
He claimed that previous governments had used local government institutions to bring ordinary citizens into politics and provide opportunities to public representatives at the grassroots level. However, he alleged that the proposed changes would reduce representation and create opportunities for influential individuals.
The JI leader also criticized former local government representatives for remaining silent over the issue, alleging that they were not raising their voice against the bill and did not want local government elections to be held.
