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Introduction
Citizen participation is the sine qua non for development. Citizen participation is the behavior or activity of citizen as groups and individuals in the process of decision-making to impact the issues that are challenging to the disadvantaged communities (Ohmer, 2010). Citizens may participate in the development and policies of local government through a number of behaviors and activities which include meeting with the legislator of the locality to convey disagreement or support for a specific policy position (Cohen and Dawson, 1993; Rafique et al. , 2016), attending some public meetings to communicate their opinion on local or district problems (Maier, 2001; Weber et al. , 2003), partaking in the political campaign through voluntary or financial means (Brady et al. , 1995), and choosing their preferred candidates through voting for the local government (Casciano, 2007; Lelieveldt, 2004; Weber et al. , 2003). The threefold argument for the citizen participation in local government suggests that it would increase the efficacy and efficiency of public services. Moreover, it will make local government more accountable and finally, it will deepen the participatory development and democratic approach (Gaventa, 2004; Gaventa and Valderrama, 1999). On the contrary, literature also suggests that citizen participation is empowering the political elite instead of leading toward inclusive development (Irvin and Stansbury, 2004; Johnson and Wilson, 2000).
In recent years, global south including Pakistan have bespoken community-based organizations (hereafter, CBOs) as the most important instrument for the citizen participation and involvement of the public. CBO is one of the emerging mechanisms that involve non-government organizations (NGOs), government officials, local selected politicians and the public representatives (key persons) to play their role in the wider interest of public and better service delivery most prominently in local governments. CBOs play an important role in the effectiveness of citizen participation. Therefore, the question arises if it is effectively achieving its objectives or otherwise, hence, raising the issue of its evaluation. At its core, CBOs must articulate the preferences and needs of public to influence the decisions of local administration affecting the effectiveness of local governance. CBOs increase the voices of citizens (Yang and Callahan, 2007; Yang and Pandey, 2011), promote equitable opportunities and service delivery (Kim and Lee, 2012). Similarly, participation mechanism promoted by CBOs helps to...