News
Thursday, December 05, 2013
MQM challenges new delimitations in SHC
KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Wednesday challenged the new delimitation of constituencies in Karachi at the Sindh High Court. The party, through its leader Dr Farooq Sattar, filed a petition in SHC nominating chief secretary, secretary local government, provincial census commissioner, commissioner Karachi, deputy commissioners of districts – West, Central, East, South and Malir – as respondents. Dr Sattar submitted in the petition that provincial government had illegally and malafidely legislated the Sindh Local Government Act 2013 which contradicts Article 104-A of the Constitution. He said as per new law, union councils were given status of union committees in urban areas and district councils in Karachi division were abolished. Dr Sattar said the new Act provided that each union council in rural areas shall comprise population from 10,000 to 15,000 while a union committee in metropolitan corporations will consist of 40,000 to 50,000 of population. He said that provincial government had completely and without jurisdiction issued a notification of new delimitations on November 12, 2013. The petitioner argued that 38 union committees for district Malir were notified; though he added that earlier all functionaries for district Malir had agreed that there would be 20 committees and 21 union councils for Malir district, which becomes a total of 41. He said some constituencies were given more representation as compared to others and further submitted that union councils - Shah Mureed and Mai Garhi, which otherwise fall in East district, had been inducted into Malir. Union council Gabopat falling in West district has been inducted into South district. He submitted that five committees, including Muhammad Brohi Goth, Ayoob Goth, Abbas Town, Gulzar Hijri and Safoora Goth had been shifted from Malir to East district, which was malafide. The petitioner said DC South had invited the delimitation proposals, where he had shown the population of 17 union committees based on estimation, which according to petitioner, was illegal as new law suggested that delimitation shall be made according to last population census. The petition was fixed for hearing on Thursday (today). agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk