LAHORE - Local government elections are an opportunity for media to shift its focus from national issues to local level issues, said speakers at a seminar titled Role of Media in Local Government Elections at Alhamra The Mall on Thursday.
The seminar was organised by Center for Journalism and Peace, a non-government organisation working on training of media professionals’ in light of peace.
Participants said the mainstream media did not focus on the local issues but local government election would set the stage for local level debate by the media. They said contestants of the local government elections should be asked questions on their plans to bring improvement in local infrastructure and the betterment of their respective areas.
They said that community participation at grass-root level could also be ensured if the media properly covers issues which came under local governments.
Speaking on the occasion, senior journalist Sajjad Mir, said the local government set-up should be given protection in the constitution for its continuity and strength. He said it was true that military rulers had used this system to bypass provinces and distribute funds through their handpicked. He said at least primary level education should be a local government subject as it was practiced in many countries.
Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) Regional Head Salman Abid said the logic which was being given to hold non-party local government election was improper. “If you favor non-party elections because it will create quarrels at grass-root level among party workers then you should also look at the scale of fights which are held during MPA, MNA elections. Other than that, non-party election will just strengthen cast-system politics which is not healthy for the political culture,” he maintained.