LAHORE: The Punjab government’s Civil Administration Ordinance 2016 is against the spirit of democracy and Article 140-A of the Constitution, says Pakistan Awami Tehreek chairman Tahirul Qadri.

Addressing the senior party members via a video link on Monday, he said the Constitution bound the government to strengthen mayors, deputy mayors and chairmen of the local government but this ordinance had snatched powers from them and given the same to the government officials and deputy commissioners.

Mr Qadri questioned the process of democracy in the country where the elected members were being controlled by the government officials.

Instead of aerial firing after winning elections, these representatives should worry about getting back their powers which had been snatched from them through the ordinance in the darkness of the night, he added.

The PAT chief said it was an insult to the elected representatives that they would have to be answerable to the government officials, and not the public.

He said the Sharifs were implementing the laws framed by the British to ruthlessly rule the people of the subcontinent.

He said the PAT wanted strong local government institutions across the country but the move of the Punjab government was in the wrong direction and it would not help the public representatives.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2016