PATRONAGE POLITICS: THE CASE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

This descriptive and analytical study aims to expose the real intensions behind launching of different models of local government in Pakistan. Among liberals, local government is considered the nursery of democracy. Paradoxically, in Pakistan this nursery is flourished under the period of authoritarian rules. The three models of local governments are introduced in the era of Martial laws. The Basic democracy of Ayub, the local government of president Zia and the devolution plan of Musharraf are presented under the military rule. Throughout the political and constitutional history of Pakistan, the civilian regimes seem reluctant to introduce the local government. This article highlights the reasons behind the reluctance of civilians and the compulsions of military dictators to support the system of local government. The apparent reason is lack of parliamentary culture in Pakistan. Parliament is the exclusive channel to reflect the people’s empowerment. The representatives are elected by the people to present their demands in parliament. All policies, whether internal or external, should be originated within the parliament. There is also the need of checking the civil dictatorship in the form of leading political parties and their chairmen. Thus the role of parliament is very important to introduce the local self-government in Pakistan. The governing elites, particularly the military regimes introduced he local government systems just to get political support for seemingly democratic legitimacy. The article investigates the intentions behind the scheme of local government in Pakistan. Both civilian and military have introduced the local government, but it could not produce the desired results.