News
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Ordinance on restoration of LG system in Sindh still in talks* PPP and MQM fail to bring ordinance due to ‘technical reasons’
Staff Report
KARACHI: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) failed to bring an ordinance on Tuesday regarding local government system in Sindh due to “technical reasons”, amid serious objections from allied parties – the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F).
Both the parties continued deliberations on draft of the new local government ordinance until late on Tuesday during their separate and joint meetings held at the Chief Minister’s House and Governor’s House.
The MQM was optimistic about a formal announcement on the LG system and issuance of an ordinance in this regard until Tuesday evening. It was the reason that Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad told the media that the matter had been resolved and both the parties will make an announcement jointly soon. The PPP leaders were also mentally ready for issuance of an ordinance until Tuesday evening. The PPP had also assigned Khursheed Shah instead of Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah the task to finalise the matter.
Official sources told media that issuance of an ordinance had been postponed until Wednesday evening due to some “technical reasons”. However, the announcement was postponed after strong opposition from two other allied parties – the ANP and PML-F. ANP’s Zahid Khan and PML-F leader Pir Pagaro’s told the media they had not been taken on board regarding the LG system, therefore, they will not support if any announcement is made or ordinance issued in this regard.
PPP leader Pir Mazharul Haq contacted PML-F leader Imtiaz Shaikh and assured him that any decision or announcement about the issue will be made after taking the PML-F into confidence. Earlier, both ANP and PML-F had been strongly opposing the revival of LG system introduced by Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf, and publicly supported enforcement of old commissionerate system in Sindh.
Sources claimed that after promulgation of the new LG system, city district governments would be established in five cities, including Karachi and Hyderabad. The new ordinance envisions the restoration of 18 towns in Karachi and establishment of city district governments in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpur Khas and Larkana, to be managed by mayors and deputy mayors instead of nazims and naib nazims.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk