News
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
PPP, MQM indecisive over new local government system
* PML-F leader says legal committees of all coalition partners will have to review each other’s recommendations, draft to be finalised after consensus
By Razzak Abro
KARACHI: Pakistan Muslim League-Functional chief Pir Pagaro has started the mediation process between the two major ruling coalition partners, the Pakistan People’s Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, to resolve the issue of the new local government system that the government would have to finalise within a fortnight.
A PML-F delegation, headed by its parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Jehangir Tarin, called on Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan at the Governor’s House on Tuesday. MNA Sadruddin Shah and Sindh Chief Minister’s Adviser Imtiaz Shaikh were also among the delegation.
The need to reach a consensus on a new local government system by all the coalition partners was stressed during the meeting.
According to the law recently passed by the Sindh Assembly, the government has to produce amendments regarding the local government system in the assembly within a month after the appointment of administrators in place of nazims.
The deadline draws near after a fortnight has passed since the administrators were appointed in all the dissolved local bodies. The government would also have to hold fresh elections within 120 days after the appointment of administrators.
The government would make an official request to the Election Commission of Pakistan in this regard. However, so far both
the major coalition partners in Sindh, the PPP and
the MQM, have been mulling things over and have yet to agree on the matter of the new local government system.Earlier, the MQM wanted the implementation of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance of 2005 with minor amendments in it. However, the PPP wanted to restore 1979’s local government system. Although, the PPP has changed its stance now and they might accept a system other than the 1979 system. Nevertheless, it is still not in favour of the 2005 system.
According to PML-F leader Imtiaz Shaikh, his party was trying to resolve the matter. He said legal committees of all the coalition partners would have to review each other’s recommendations and then a draft would be finalised after the parties reach a consensus.
He also said his party’s legal committee would meet on Wednesday at his residence to discuss the amendments. A third option is needed to resolve the issue, he added.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk