MQM-P seeks LG autonomy in 27th amend

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Wednesday demanded that local governments (LGs) be given autonomy in the proposed 27th (Constitution) Amendment.

MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar presented the demand while addressing a news conference in Islamabad, alongside party leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.

Sattar asserted that after provincial autonomy had been granted under the 18th Amendment, the "next step naturally is local autonomy, so its turn must come".

"The important thing that we also said at the time of the 26th Amendment, that our constitutional amendment package be included," he said, referring to its agreement with the PML-N to empower local governments. "But it did not happen," Sattar lamented, calling for the matter to be included in the 27th Amendment.

Sattar contended that the Constitution's Article 140A, which provides that the provinces will establish LGs, needed to be amended so that laws enacted by local bodies would not contradict it.

"The Constitution is a sacred document, but not a divine scripture; it is a living document," the MNA contended. He added that it should not bring worry or surprise if amendments were needed in it "as per the requirements of the time and situation, and for the country's stability".

Sattar also voiced support for constitutional courts, which were initially planned to be formed through the 26th Amendment but only constitutional benches were established in the end.

Meanwhile, about the proposed Constitutional tweaks, Siddiqui said: "We are only telling the key features, and have presented what the government told us and what we understood.

"Even from us, especially Article 243 — this year has created the need for it to be harmonised with national unity, strong defence, and modern requirements of defence," he said.