Questions on PC polls

As much as the Government’s wavering stance on the MCC is keeping the nation guessing, so too is its seemingly dual track policy on devolution.

The ruling party chairperson went on record this week to say that the next set of elections after the August 5 Parliamentary polls is going to be the Provincial Council elections. He spoke of the importance of the people’s franchise and how the previous Administration postponed these elections (fearing defeat).

A think-tank that has the ear of the Presidency just a fortnight ago debunked the entire PC system and called for its dismantling. This view has long been acknowledged. It is nothing more than a power struggle between parties serving neither man nor beast and rife with persons involved with forest devouring, sand mining, illicit liquor, drug lords and the like. Even those in the North who earlier clamoured for it have been rather lukewarm seeing it in action.

The incumbent President’s election manifesto was filled with contradictions on the issue. On the one hand, it spoke of giving the PCs more powers to carry out development work, on the other, it spoke of appointing a Parliamentary Select Committee to look into, inter-alia, PCs “to reflect the aspirations of the people” through a new Constitution.

The Election Commission estimates yet another Rs. 5 billion to hold PC elections. This is on top of Rs. 4.5 billion already spent on local government polls, Rs. 6 billion on Presidential elections and Rs.10 billion estimated for next month’s elections -- a grand total of some Rs. 26 billion to elect the people’s representatives. No wonder the World Bank demoted the country from an upper middle income country status back to a lower middle income country.

Does the ruling party spokesman’s view reflect the position of the Government that elections will be held to the existing PCS after the general elections, is the question.