Incompetent LG system imposed on Sindh: Khrsheedi

Says Hyd people are deprived of water though city is on the bank of Indus River

HYDERABAD:

The opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly Ali Khursheedi has said a non-autonomous local government system, being ruled by the incompetent local government representatives, has been imposed on Sindh.

Speaking at a press conference at Hyderabad office of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan on Thursday, he added that the people in all the urban centres in Sindh have been forced to live their lives by being denied their fundamental civic rights.

"Hyderabad's Mayor Kashif Shoro has kept the citizens deprived of water," he lamented, pointing out that there should be no reason for water scarcity in a city, located on the left bank of the Indus River. "Whenever I come to Hyderabad and interact with the local people I get complaints about deplorable civic services, water shortage and drainage issues."

He deplored that faults in machineries of the pumping stations are often cited as reasons for water unavailability but no acceptable justification is given about inordinate delay in repairing those machines or replacing them. "More saddening is the fact that there is no one to hold such elected representatives and officials accountable."

He criticised the removal of Kamran Tessori from the august position of governor. He credited Tessori for opening the doors of that symbol of colonial rule for the common people. "It was this crime of letting in the ordinary people which cost him his position."

He recalled that tens of thousands of people used to visit the Governor House to register their complaints. Khursheedi asserted that no other governor could match his or her conduct and performance with Tessori.

Referring to MQM-P's proposed provisions about empowering the local government system, he bemoaned that the party's propositions were neither incorporated in the 26th constitutional amendment nor in the 27th despite assurances.

"This is because the rulers don't want to give space to the common people," he argued, saying that their proposed provisions meant to strengthen the local bodies by making them autonomous and financially independent. Nevertheless, Khursheedi said, the MQM-P has been assured about institution of reforms in the local government system before the next elections.

The opposition leader condemned what he described as the incidents of short-term kidnapping which he said have started to occur in Hyderabad as well after Karachi. "More concerning is the involvement of police in such abductions." He asked the Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar to take a serious notice.