Sindh Nationalist parties strike against new LG system on Sept 13

The decision to observe a strike was taken at a meeting of the Sindh Bachao Committee. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

SINDH: Nationalist parties of Sindh including the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) along with the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Muslim League Functional (PML-F) have announced a province-wide shutter-down strike on September 13 against the new Sindh Peoples Local Government Ordinance, Express News reported on Friday.

Governor Sindh Ishratul Ibad had signed the Sindh Peoples Local Government Ordinance early on Friday morning. The system came immediately into effect.

The decision to observe a strike was taken at a meeting of the Sindh Bachao Committee, which comprises of more than twenty nationalist parties of Sindh.

During the meeting at the residence of Jalal  Mehmood Shah, all parties agreed to reject the new system.

Among those present at the meeting included Dr Qadir Magsi, Riaz Chandio, Khalid Mehmood Soomro of the JUI-F, Saleem Zia of the PML-N and Dr Niza Kilani of the JSQM.

Demanding to cancel the issued ordinance, participants of the meeting also decided to encircle the governor house and the chief minister house to protest on the day of the strike.

According to sources, some ministers of PML-F have even submitted their resignations to Pir Pagara to protest against the ordinance.

Awami National Party (ANP) has already lodged its protest by calling back its only minister in the Sindh government.

The Pakistan Peoples Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had evolved a consensus on a new LG system which borrowed from the 1979 and the 2001 systems. It would appoint political administrators in all the towns and metropolitan cities who would perform the role of mayors till the local government elections are held.