Sindh Assembly: Local govt bill likely to be presented today

MQM says its proposal was not accepted, PTI complains of being sidelined.

KARACHI:

The anticipated Sindh Assembly session in which the much-debated local government bill is most likely to be presented will start today (Monday).

The bill on Sindh Local Government Law 2013 has been prepared by the Pakistan Peoples Party- led government in Sindh in compliance with the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s orders to hold the LG election by September 15. The government, however, is facing resistance from its former major coalition partner, Muttahida Qaumi Movement. The latter is adamant that the Sindh Peoples Local Government Law 2012, which was passed by both PPP and MQM, be implemented. The government, on the other hand, has chosen to go ahead with a new law built on the framework of the 1979 system.

According to sources, some senior leaders of the PPP are divided over whether the law should be passed within a day or the government should first initiate a debate inside the assembly.  “We are considering introducing the bill on Monday and will pass it the next day,” said Law Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro, adding that they [PPP] have consulted almost all political parties and major stakeholders on this issue, leaving no excuse for those who always criticise PPP’s government on passing laws within minutes. “The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Muslim League-Functional have appreciated the bill but a difference of opinion has come up with the MQM.”

According to him, the government was holding dialogues with MQM and would welcome any valuable suggestion or amendment to the law from them.

According to MQM’s parliamentary leader, Syed Sardar Ahmed, his party had already submitted a proposal to the government, but the latter was not willing to accept it. “No doubt the government has majority, but we will raise our objections if the bill prepared by PPP is passed,” he said.

The PPP had convened a parliamentary party meeting at the CM House on Sunday night to devise the line of action regarding the Sindh Assembly session. Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Senior Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro and Local Government Minister Owais Muzaffar were among those PPP leaders who attended the meeting. The meeting was still in session till the filing of this report.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s members in the provincial assembly complained that the ruling party has consulted almost all parties, but has sidelined them. “The government has not shared the LG draft copy with us nor were we contacted by any ministerial committee which was negotiating with different stakeholders,” said PTI MPA Syed Hafeezuddin. He added that his party members would appreciate a good law and oppose those clauses which went against the wishes of the people of Sindh.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2013.