- Defense Minister calls 18th Amendment “empty slogan”.
- Asif says politicians have failed to implement the 18th amendment.
- The minister affirms that the decentralization of power strengthens the State.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said Wednesday that lawmakers who created the 18th Amendment were responsible for its failure to implement it.
Speaking on PK Press Club News On the “Capital Talk” program, the defense minister said that the ultimate responsibility for turning the constitutional amendment into an “empty slogan” lies with the politicians who adopted it but failed to execute it in letter and spirit.
The key slogan of the 18th Amendment was devolution of powers to the local level, Asif said and asked if this goal had been achieved anywhere in the country.
“Have powers really been transferred to lower levels, inside or outside Parliament? asked the minister.
Separately, Asif — in an article on
He said effective and accountable local governments would enable Pakistan’s population of over 250 million to access governance through the municipal administrations of Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar through a functional local government system.
He admitted that despite the 18th constitutional amendment, successive governments had failed to fully activate the local government framework, attributing this to a lack of political sincerity.
Asif said empowered local governments would allow citizens to elect their own representatives and institutions through votes, rather than remaining dependent on the bureaucracy, whose officials hold temporary positions.
He added that if local officials fail to deliver, the public can directly hold them accountable.
The minister said key civic services – including water supply, fire services, sanitation, primary education, healthcare, drainage, encroachment management and local roads – should be under the jurisdiction of local governments, along with an independent local taxation system.
Citing global examples, the defense minister noted that in many countries, even parts of the justice and police systems operate under the direction of elected local authorities.
He warned that weak and powerless local bodies fail to deliver services and cause political harm rather than benefits, while strong municipal institutions strengthen public authority, reduce unrest and create a lasting bond between government and citizens.
Asif concluded that dispersion of power multiplies its effectiveness, while concentration of power diminishes it, adding that a satisfied society ultimately leads to a stronger country.
Earlier, the minister, while addressing the National Assembly on Tuesday, had said, “The 18th amendment turned out to be a hoax as all the powers were transferred to the provincial government.”
The defense minister said “dictators” had established local bodies with powers in the country, but civilian governments were trying to avoid delegating power to the local level.
“They (civilian governments) often find flimsy excuses to postpone local elections,” he added.
