Provinces to resolve local bodies issue: PM

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said the future of local government system rests with the provinces and they will decide how to go about it. Talking to reporters at the Margalla Railway Station, the Prime Minister said since the local government system was a provincial subject and their tenure was coming to an end, it was now up to them to decide about the future administrative system. Since we acknowledge the mandate of the Chief Ministers, we have to give them their rights as well, Gilani added. The Prime Minister said I cannot interfere in the affairs of the provinces ... What the provinces want to do is their domain. Not even the President or the Prime Minister can do anything, he added. Prime Minister Gilani said President Musharraf placed the subject of local governments under Schedule 6 of the Constitution which was against the spirit of constitution, as the matter is a provincial subject. He said he has always been supportive of provincial autonomy and harmony and desired to develop consensus. He said there was a need for having a uniform system in place, with all provinces having a similar setup, so that no problems occur at a later stage. Prime Minister said he was only giving advice to the President, under the ambit of the constitution, regarding the recommendations of the provinces on what they desire regarding the local bodies government. Commenting on the deadlock between PPP - PML-N on the 17th amendment, Gilani said under the Charter of Democracy, both the parties were moving ahead with the sole objective to strengthen institutions and democracy. He said that PPP and PML-N were two different political parties, with separate manifestos and programs and added that Nawaz Sharif cannot do anything to derail democracy. He said it was the role of leadership to give direction and not to get direction. As the Chief Executive of the country I am committed with the PML-N. He said both the parties have similarity of views on the issue and added we want to implement the Charter of Democracy. A committee has been constituted, with Raza Rabbani as its chairman and there was no difference of opinion in this regard. He said the government was sincerely trying to undo the 17th amendment and 58-2(b). Gilani said the government cannot interfere in the working of the committee and it was fully cognizant of the important task it has been assigned.