PPP, MQM agree on magistracy system

Parties agree on revival of magistracy system in Sindh.

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement have agreed on revival of magistracy system in Sindh province. The two parities reached the consensus in a meeting held at Chief Minister House here on Sunday. The PPP was represented by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and provincial ministers Pir Mazharul Haq and Muhammad Ayaz Soomro while Deputy Convener of the MQM Coordination Committee Dr Farooq Sattar and provincial minister Sardar Ahmed represented MQM.

According to the sources, important and decisive dialogue took place between the coalition parties about the revival of the magistrate system. MQM insisted its point of view that the powers should be given in magistrate system to elected representatives and local body officers instead of concentrating them in a single person’s hands. The local body officers can effectively use these powers in checking overpricing.

The meeting agreed that Syed Sardar Ahmed will prepare a consensus summary in coordination with law minister Muhammad Ayaz Soomro and Secretary Law that will be presented to Chief Minister Sindh who will approve it and send it to the federal government.

Syed Sardar Ahmed told journalists that the two parties have reached a consensus on revival of magistrate system under the Sindh Local Bodies Ordinance.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2011.