After delay of 17 years local government elections were held in 42 Cantonment boards on party basis. It was a pleasant change that political parties accepted the results warm heartedly and there was no hue and cry of riggings.
PML N took the lead and bagged 68 out of the 199 seats; PTI was second on the list with 42 seats, whilst surprisingly 55 seats were claimed by the independent candidates. MQM was prominent with 19 seats, Jamaat-e-Islami grabbed seven and ANP took two seats.
It was very surprising that PPP could secure only eight seats, which could be taken to figure out that party is towards its decline after the dismal performance in Punjab in last general elections. Former Presdient Asif Ali Zardari while addressing to a rally on Sunday brushed aside the speculations that PPP has become a regional party and vowed to re-strength his party.
Apart from few infamous incidents like violations of code of conduct, transportation of voters and aerial firing by the supporters of winning candidates, elections remained peaceful.
After the elections PTI Chief is looking to reorganize its party as over thirty candidates who won elections by contesting as independent had applied for the ticket of PTI. PTI can learn from its mistakes and should try to mend its way ahead of the local body elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other provinces.
Supreme Court of Pakistan had to push for the local body elections. Despite the use of lingering tactics by the government, the court remained consistent in hearing this case. The concern shown by the court in this case of public interest is worthy of admiration. Holding of these elections is a positive development because local body elections are considered as nurseries of democracy. On the whole, the devolution of power at the grassroots level is a welcome initiative.
Local representatives would be able to work for the welfare by resolving civic problems of their voters in their constituencies.