JI moves court for not devolving powers to UCs

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has filed a constitutional petition before the Sindh High Court (SHC), seeking contempt of the court proceedings against the caretaker Sindh chief minister, the local government minister and the chief secretary over defying the SHC orders for devolution of powers to the union councils (UCs).

Addressing a press conference after filing the petition, the JI leader said that despite the SHC's explicit orders, the caretaker government has not ended the interim period in union committees, neither all relevant powers have been devolved.

The JI leader held the caretaker Sindh chief minister, the local government minister and the chief secretary for defying the court orders and made them party in the petition.

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The JI leader said that the prevailing problematic system was hatched by the PPP government and Karachiites were expecting a sigh of relief by the interim government but the incumbent regime proved itself an extension of the previous government.

The petition, filed by the JI, sought the court to order empowerment of union committees, transfer the staffers to UCs, identify the offices and secretaries and bring an end to the defunct union councils.

Hafiz Naeem further said that out of the total 246 UCs some 30 to 40 elected people have been deprived of their officers, secretaries and even committees and funds. He said that each UC is provided with Rs500, 000 per month, whereas Rs4, 50, 000 per month is consumed by salaries.

In the prevailing situation, UC staffers have been deprived of their salaries for the past two months.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2023.