Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2004 09:10:36 -0400
Rejection of public demand criticized: Increase in NALC
seats:
By Our Reporter
ISLAMABAD, April 29th 2004:
The Northern Areas Legislative Council
(NALC) member from Hunza, Wazir Baig, on Thursday criticized the Chief Executive of
Northern Areas, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao , for rejecting the proposal of an increase in the NALC seats and delimitation of constituencies.
Talking to a delegation of dignitaries and political figures from the region here on Thursday, the NALC member termed the decision a mockery and contempt of the popular will.
He said the decision, taken at a recent cabinet meeting in Gilgit by the federal minister for Kashmir affairs and northern areas, ignoring the elected representatives and popular demand, was not only against the democratic norms but also negation of the people's mandate.
The minister, Mr Baig observed, had taken the decision on the ill-advice of some local bureaucrats who did not want an increase in the seats of some bigger and overpopulated constituencies and see the democratic institutions strengthened.
Mr Baig said it was a sheer discrimination and injustice with the people of those constituencies whose population was four times more than those having a population of only 10,000 but who had both equal representation in the council.
The PPP member maintained that it was a longstanding demand of the people of
bigger constituencies to increase their seats in the council on the basis of population.
He recalled that the council after extensive debate on the issue had approved with an overwhelming majority the recommendations of the standing committee for an increase in seats and age limit for voters before the October elections.
He urged President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan
Jamali to intervene in the matter and order an increase in the legislative council seats and remove the sense of deprivation growing among the people.
Mr Baig believed that it was a conspiracy aimed to make the government unpopular among the people of the Northern Areas and open up a new front for the government.
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