Devolution’s next step: President orders revival of Nazim system in Sindh
After facing a backlash at the proposal to have two different local government systems within the province, the Sindh government, in consultation with President Asif Ali Zardari has decided to reintroduce the elected local government system throughout the province instead of just in Karachi and Hyderabad.
Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad Khan met with Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and the provincial law secretary late on Sunday night to finalise the legalities and sign the law that would revive the Sindh Local Government Ordinance 2001.
According to sources familiar with the situation, President Asif Ali Zardari had directed the Sindh government to reintroduce the elected local government system – and do away with the bureaucrat-led commissionerate system – throughout the province of Sindh after realising that two different local government systems would be deeply unpopular with ethnic Sindhi voters who would view such a move as the beginnings of a division of Sindh.
On Sunday, nationalist parties in Sindh have announced that they will launch a two-week protest against the deal between the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement that had sought the revival of the elected local government system in the two districts dominated by the MQM – Karachi and Hyderabad.
“Zardari, by treading the path of… Ziaul Haq and Pervez Musharraf, has handed over Karachi and Hyderabad to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement,” said Awami Tehreek president Ayaz Latif Palijo
The nationalist parties were perturbed by the fact that two districts dominated by the MQM would be governed under a different system than the rest of the province, an unnerving prospect for them at a time when one of the dominant themes on the national political scene is the creation of new provinces in the country.
Yet the nationalists are not the only ones to be opposed to the reintroduction of the elected local government system.
“Restoring the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, whether in two districts or in the whole province, is a clear violation of the constitution,” Senator Taj Haider of the PPP told The Express Tribune. “Whoever is doing this is violating the constitution.”
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, however, rejected Senator Haider’s remarks and said that a uniform system was needed throughout the province and the commissionerate system would be rolled back not just in Karachi and Hyderabad but also the rest of Sindh’s 21 districts.
In order to discuss the changes in Sindh’s local government system and MQM’s re-entry into the ruling coalition, President Zardari has called a meeting in Islamabad on Monday (today). The meeting will be attended by senior PPP leaders, including Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and members of his provincial cabinet.
Sources told the Daily Express that the president is expected to give his formal approval of the accord reached with the MQM on Saturday, a negotiation that was led by Babar Awan of the PPP and Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad of the MQM. Among the Sindh cabinet members expected to attend the meeting are Pir Mazharul Haq, Zulfiqar Mirza, Agha Siraj Durrani, and Ayaz Soomro. (With additional reporting by Aijaz Shaikh)
Published in The Express Tribune, August 8th, 2011.
COMMENTS (23)
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I am a Sindhi, and I take pride in my culture and language. But I still believe that MQM has has more to give to this province than any other party. These are educated, middle class people who work hard. I have never felt an outsider in their company, and they are a part of this province and country. Millions of poor and middle class, non-feudal Sindhis scan finally realize their dreams if they follow their example. When we come to the larger cities of Sindh, it is they who educate us and help us change our lives. MQM is not just an Urdu speaking party but I do want to add that during the flood last year it was Urdu-speaking Pakistanis helping us...not the Sindhi feudals. Enough of these divisions. We need to learn from who ever can teach us and not be biased.
@H.A. Khan: Exactly, The LB system is absolutely no good unless you hold the elections.
It is all about hanging on to power.
How come local bodies elections have not been held in last three years?
The LG system reflects a growing trend around the world. It should be a source of shame that Turkey has 16 cities that have decentralized structures! Their cities started being implemented in 1980s and their numbers kept growing. Meanwhile instead of going forward and working on adding more in Pakistan, the parties said "oh we miss colonial era-bring back colonial relic!" The rural system could be modified since there are no ag taxes. The panchayat systems form in India is also too elaborate as they also do not collect ag taxes either in India.
Our hereditary ruling elite, in its loot-sale system revolving around corruption through disruption/dislocation of society, and who never take pain to solve the real problems of the poor people, these corrupt rulers are more interested in creating concocted artificial/political issues, which benefit them only,and the poor ones face and diacharge more and more conomic liabilities. It makes their life more miserable/ un-bearable. Now what bebefits the new provinces will provide to the people. None, nothing. But the professional politicians will enjoy the newer portfolios of ministers,many more( hundreds)MPAs/MNAs, judges, bureaucrats and what not.All this will put more economic burden on poor oeople. Here let us go a few years back into our history when all the four provinces of the present-day pakistan were made one peovince of West Pakistn (in the united Pakistan of Quaid-e-Azam) and administratively was run by the more responsible, serious-minded, dedicated politicians/ leaders and the people actually enjoyed a peaceful orderly life from Peshawar to Karachi, without any load-shedding and sleep-less nights- will you believe it? Then why the presrnt-day leaders can not run the (restored) four smaller provinces. They can. But then their loot-sale system of corruption will not Feed-back, rather "Food-back" to them as the new provinces will provide new avenues of progress and prosperity to these hereditary breed of rulnig (professional) politicians. In view of all this, one may conclude that no system will work in our God-gifted Pakistan,unless free will of the people, expressed through honestly held free and fair election, is accepted and practiced in letter and spirit. May God bless our motherland and its people for all the time to come Ameen.
so both system were givin by former doctators what a democracy. its should be called Dicmocracy.
CMLO: cancel my last ordinance. And what about the poor people who have lost their lives and livelihoods in the process?
Carve out new provinces not only from Punjab but from Sindh , Kyhber Pashtun Khwa by all means . But on administrative needs and not on playing politics However God' sake complete your homework before embarking on it
@A J Khan: Good one. You want to tell us that these are games being played with the people of Sindh by the two most seedy politicians???
Bad decision reversed. The beauty of irresolution and bad decision making is that one is never sure about his next step. Elected representatives are way better than dishonest bureaucracy. MQM is way more felon than PPP leadership. Altaf was the principle of the School (ISKOOL) where Zardari was studying seedy politics.
Excellent move! Bravo MQM... I think their stand has really assisted in bringing Sindh back to 2011 and cut a deal with ruling PPP. Good to be back in the present times!
What is interesting is that this news in not trending on Twitter... :) Only bad news trend on twitter
So Awami Tehreek President Ayaz Latif Palijo thinks that “Zardari, by treading the path of… Ziaul Haq and Pervez Musharraf, has handed over Karachi and Hyderabad to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.” Who were Zia or Musharraf to hand over Karachi to MQM or anyone else?? Karachi's citizens are not haris that could be handed over in bondage to anyone. MQM will have to win a majority in elections in order to govern Karachi or Hyderabad. Other political parties are free to contest MQM by presenting their own plans and manifesto for the betterment of Karachi.
Problem is that the Wadera Parties do not have a plan or a manifesto to attempt to represent the Karachi or Hyderabad residents and they do not want these residents to be represented by elected representatives. You can enslave people for only so long Mr. Palijo. Instead of politicking on bogus issues Awami Tehreek should mobilize the people to free themselves from the feudals. Awami Tehreek happens to be one of the few, if not the only one, Sindhi Nationalist Party led by non-feudal and sincere leaders. Make use of it by mobilizing Sindhi masses to free themselves and fight for their rights. Don't misuse it by spreading ethnic and linguistic hate. You won't go too far.
We will go for commissioner system, we will go for local government, we will go for commissioner system, we will go for local government......
It's a joke which is not even funny anymore.
Good to see LG system back in place. It is far better than the Commissioner system.
Voila, our so-called learned government! Artificially create the mess yourself. Then solve it again to claim credit.
Grow up and focus on real problems instead!
Whats happening, nobody knows. Pakistan has never seen such a confused, careless and novice government before. Cancel my last announcement (CMLA) is the order of the day.Anything and everything is possible in this system.
so whats bad about bringing back the basic democracy and power to people instead of colonial bureaucratic system?
Bravo! PPP should take this opportunity to make all significant cities have decentralized systems to third UC level. The ANP should wonder why Pathans are decamping to Karachi? They should make their cities in their home province full of vitality using the Karachi model as an example. And PML-N please show some sense and do the same!
Good Deal!
At present the influence of MQM is only restricted up to Sindh and to bring back MQM in to fold, the Chief Minister of Sindh and President of Pakistan has issued orders to revive Local Government Ordinance only in Sindh.
Good to see Nazims, Naib Nazims, UC Councillors back in the office.
Local Government elections will also be held in due course of time.
Now there are three political groups in Sind. The first led by MQM, the second led by Mr. Zulfiqar Mirza and the third led by Shahi Syed.
Though Shahi Syed has opposed to see LG system back in Sindh, but when the date of elections will be announced ANP is going to participate in the elections from Karachi.
Mr. Zulfiqar Mirza will not leave any stone unturned to get his Nazim, Naib Nazims and UC Councillors elected in the LG elections. Let us wait and see how the political triangle will take place in Sindh.
Keep your fingers cross. There is a bumpy road ahead.