Musharraf to unveil scheme for devolution of powers today

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, AUG. 13. In a staunch defence of the new system of local governance, the Pakistani President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has declared that his Government was committed to holding elections to the provincial and national assemblies before the October 2002 deadline set by the Supreme Court.

Gen. Musharraf used the message he gave to the nation on the eve of the Pakistan Independence Day, August 14, to glorify his experiment with the grassroots democracy as the dawn of a new era and urged the people to make the new dispensation a grand success.

Political parties and independent observers do not share the enthusiasm of Gen. Musharraf over the new system of local governance all set to be operationalised tomorrow. The new system is the outcome of partyless election at the grassroots level by the military Government.

Gen. Musharraf is scheduled to address the district- level heads of the new system tomorrow and indications are he would unveil a scheme for devolution of political and economic powers to the new set-up. Political parties have serious concerns over the plans of the Musharraf Government vis-vis the new system and believe that it could only contribute to all-round confusion.

Political parties are particularly worried over the reported plan for involvement of army officers in local governance. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP), in a statement today, said it was gravely concerned over the reports that under the new set up, clearance and advice on development projects will have to be taken from the Corps Commanders who will also see the utilisation and allocation of funds through the Army Monitoring Teams.

However, Gen. Musharraf is not convinced by the arguments of representatives of political parties against the various things envisaged in the new set up. This was evident from his message today. ``It is a matter of satisfaction that from August 14 this year, the nation would embark upon a new era, where we can take genuine pride in accomplishing the monumental task of empowering the people of Pakistan at the grassroot level as was dreamt by our founding father of the Nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

He said the devolution of power plan and structural reforms undertaken by the Government would do away with the vestiges of colonialism and restore public confidence in the system. Henceforth, the people would be the master of their own destiny. ``August 14, 2001, marks the completion of the first phase of election and we are now to conclude the second and final phase of the process as per the deadline set by the Supreme Court and promised by the Government. It is my firm belief that with honesty of purpose and single-minded devotion to the national cause, we are bound to succeed in our mission of restoring Pakistan to its rightful place in the comity of Nations'', he said.

Gen. Musharraf said his Government's de-weaponisation campaign, stricter anti-terrorism laws, efficient and responsive enforcement machinery and economic revival would have a positive impact on improving the overall governance in the country.

Benazir charge

The former Prime Minister and PPP chairperson, Ms. Benazir Bhutto, has accused Gen. Musharraf of attempting to foist a ``totalitarian and dictatorial regime'' on the country and said her party would resist all such moves.

In a statement on the eve of Independence Day, Ms. Bhutto, who is on self-exile, urged the people to oppose all moves of the military Government which were against the ideals for which Pakistan was created.

``Today is a day of rejoicing and celebrating. It is a day of rejoicing as on this day 54 years ago, our forefathers were able to secure a separate homeland for themselves wherein we could live in freedom and shape our lives according to our values. But it is also a day of introspection and reflection. It is a day to ponder whether we have moved towards or away from the ideals for which Pakistan was created,'' she said.

Pakistan was envisaged to be a country where supremacy of Constitution, rule of law and respect for human rights were to reign supreme. ``It is a sad thought that on this Independence Day we find those ideals and principles trampled.''

She said the Constitution had been suspended and democracy had folded up. In an obvious reference to the statements by Gen. Musharraf that he would not allow either Ms. Bhutto or the former Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif, to return to active politics in Pakistan, she alleged that genuine representatives of the people were sought to be eliminated through official notifications and ordinances.

They were being ``banished'' from politics using the ``farcical facade of accountability''. The voice of the people was being stifled. New experiments were being made by the military regime in the name of devolution but actually with a view to diverting attention and perpetuating its own rule, she charged.

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