MQM links support for constitutional amendment to empowering local govts

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM) has made its support for the constitutional amendment contingent on the inclusion of changes to Article A-140, aimed at empowering local governments across the country.

According to an MQM spokesperson, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with an MQM delegation in Islamabad on Saturday to discuss the constitutional amendments. During the meeting, the MQM demanded that local governments be given greater authority and proposed a draft amendment to Article A-140.

Sources revealed that the MQM delegation, which included Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, Aminul Haq, and Farooq Sattar, met with the prime minister, while the government was represented by Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Saad Rafique, and Rana Sanaullah.

The MQM team presented a draft amendment to the prime minister, outlining their demand to strengthen the powers of local governments. In response, Prime Minister Sharif tasked Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Ayaz Sadiq, Rana Sanaullah, and Saad Rafique with reviewing the MQM's proposal.

MQM sources stated that a high-level Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, is expected to visit the MQM’s Bahadurabad headquarters to discuss the proposal in detail.

The PML-N team is likely to meet MQM leaders on Sunday to finalise their stance on the constitutional amendment, with the discussions scheduled for 2pm at Bahadurabad.