Islamabad: Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami North Punjab Dr. Tariq Saleem has announced that a province-wide referendum against the Punjab Local Government Act will commence from today (Thursday). He said referendum camps will be established at key locations across all districts of Punjab, including streets, neighborhoods, squares, intersections, markets, and educational institutions, to ensure maximum public participation.
To facilitate transparent and smooth voting, Dr. Tariq Saleem stated that independent and autonomous referendum commissions have been formed at both the central and district levels. Through this referendum, opinions of millions of citizens across the province will be sought on the Punjab Local Government Act.
He expressed these views while addressing a review meeting held in connection with preparations for the four-day referendum. Dr. Tariq Saleem termed the new local government system a direct attack on the democratic and constitutional rights of the people, adding that public issues cannot be resolved unless local government institutions are granted complete financial, administrative, and political autonomy. Criticizing the current government, he said it has effectively stripped the public of decision-making powers by placing local government institutions under bureaucratic control. He emphasized that Jamaat-e-Islami will continue its vigorous struggle against this law and will compel the government to withdraw it.
Dr. Tariq Saleem further stated that the law has transferred administrative, financial, and decision-making authority from elected representatives to the bureaucracy, a move that has no constitutional justification. He warned that imposing bureaucratic control over local governments undermines public service delivery and weakens transparency. Referring to constitutional principles, he said power must be devolved to elected representatives at the grassroots level, whereas the current law seeks to centralize authority instead of transferring it. He demanded immediate amendments to the Local Government Act, restoration of direct elections of mayors and chairmen, and full authority for elected representatives to utilize development funds.
He concluded by calling for constitutional protection of local government institutions and the establishment of empowered, transparent, and active local governments across Punjab, so that real relief can be provided to the people and power can genuinely reach the grassroots level.