Homecoming: MQM ministers go back to work as confusion prevails over portfolios
The local govt 2001 issue will be brought before the assembly soon.
KARACHI:
With their leaders back in the government fold, a few Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) provincial ministers went back to work on Thursday but it was not clear what would happen to the men who took their place when they were gone.
The MQM had about 13 ministers and one adviser in the provincial cabinet but they resigned when the party left the ruling coalition following a disagreement about the Kashmir elections. Now that they have returned, problems and confusion over portfolios, offices, vehicles and resources have surfaced.
While the government promises that their portfolios will be returned, it is not clear who will head the departments that were re-allotted to other coalition partners - Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid and PML-Functional.
“The government did not accept our party ministers’ resignations, who, according to law continued with their positions,” said MQM leader Sheikh Muhammad Afzal who was once the environment minister. “Those people whose departments have not been re-allotted to other parties have resumed their jobs.”
He explained that the chief minister has asked them to wait for further orders. “It is up to the CM’s discretion which departments are allotted to us,” he said.
Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed, Industries Minister Rauf Siddiqui and Public Health and Engineering Minister Adil Siddiqui have returned to work and attended departmental meetings. Meanwhile, the Aufaq, youth affairs, environment, rural development and sports department portfolios have been relocated to Dr Rafique Banbhan, Jam Madad Ali of the PML-F, Shahryar Mahar, Aijaz Shah Sheerazi and Haleem Adil Shaikh of the PML-Q.
“I am working as the Auqaf minister and no orders have been issued to de-notify my portfolio as yet,” said Banbhan. “I will accept whatever decision is made by my party.”
The MQM’s decision to rejoin the government brings the total number of members in the Sindh cabinet to 83. There will be five advisers and 20 special assistants and a total of 58 ministers.
“The government wants to accommodate all its coalition partners in the present set-up,” said an official. “Therefore it has decided to take some portfolios back from its own ministers, and they will be re-allotted to coalition partners. Besides, the CM is in charge of over 15 portfolios - a few of them will also be distributed among the partners in order to pacify them.”
Meanwhile, the government is working on providing new ministers with offices and cars and have purchased vehicles worth Rs30 million.
Meagre opposition
Now that the MQM is back on the treasury benches, there will be only four members of opposition in the Sindh Assembly as all parties - excluding four members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s likeminded group led by former chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim. Of the quartet, Dr Arbab Rahim is out of the country.
The remaining three, however, are adamant on not letting numbers keep them from doing their job as opposition members. “We are the real opposition now and cannot compromise on Sindh’s issues,” said Razzaque Rahimon, deputy parliamentary leader of the party.
Local government ordinance 2001
The government has decided to move local government ordinance 2001 in the Sindh Assembly as it will expire by the first week of November.
The ordinance was issued by Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan on August 7 and will pave the way to restore the 1979 system.
As the 18th Amendment restricts the governor from issuing another ordinance, the government has decided to introduce it in the assembly. “President Zardari has asked both the coalition partners to reach a consensus on the issue either amending SLGO 2001 system or bringing a new system,” said an official.
It is rumoured that MQM still supports the SLGO 2001 and opposes any changes into it, but the PPP wants to amend it. “The MQM has been assured that the local government system will be restored soon after seeking a third option acceptable to all coalition partners,” said the official.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2011.
With their leaders back in the government fold, a few Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) provincial ministers went back to work on Thursday but it was not clear what would happen to the men who took their place when they were gone.
The MQM had about 13 ministers and one adviser in the provincial cabinet but they resigned when the party left the ruling coalition following a disagreement about the Kashmir elections. Now that they have returned, problems and confusion over portfolios, offices, vehicles and resources have surfaced.
While the government promises that their portfolios will be returned, it is not clear who will head the departments that were re-allotted to other coalition partners - Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid and PML-Functional.
“The government did not accept our party ministers’ resignations, who, according to law continued with their positions,” said MQM leader Sheikh Muhammad Afzal who was once the environment minister. “Those people whose departments have not been re-allotted to other parties have resumed their jobs.”
He explained that the chief minister has asked them to wait for further orders. “It is up to the CM’s discretion which departments are allotted to us,” he said.
Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed, Industries Minister Rauf Siddiqui and Public Health and Engineering Minister Adil Siddiqui have returned to work and attended departmental meetings. Meanwhile, the Aufaq, youth affairs, environment, rural development and sports department portfolios have been relocated to Dr Rafique Banbhan, Jam Madad Ali of the PML-F, Shahryar Mahar, Aijaz Shah Sheerazi and Haleem Adil Shaikh of the PML-Q.
“I am working as the Auqaf minister and no orders have been issued to de-notify my portfolio as yet,” said Banbhan. “I will accept whatever decision is made by my party.”
The MQM’s decision to rejoin the government brings the total number of members in the Sindh cabinet to 83. There will be five advisers and 20 special assistants and a total of 58 ministers.
“The government wants to accommodate all its coalition partners in the present set-up,” said an official. “Therefore it has decided to take some portfolios back from its own ministers, and they will be re-allotted to coalition partners. Besides, the CM is in charge of over 15 portfolios - a few of them will also be distributed among the partners in order to pacify them.”
Meanwhile, the government is working on providing new ministers with offices and cars and have purchased vehicles worth Rs30 million.
Meagre opposition
Now that the MQM is back on the treasury benches, there will be only four members of opposition in the Sindh Assembly as all parties - excluding four members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s likeminded group led by former chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim. Of the quartet, Dr Arbab Rahim is out of the country.
The remaining three, however, are adamant on not letting numbers keep them from doing their job as opposition members. “We are the real opposition now and cannot compromise on Sindh’s issues,” said Razzaque Rahimon, deputy parliamentary leader of the party.
Local government ordinance 2001
The government has decided to move local government ordinance 2001 in the Sindh Assembly as it will expire by the first week of November.
The ordinance was issued by Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan on August 7 and will pave the way to restore the 1979 system.
As the 18th Amendment restricts the governor from issuing another ordinance, the government has decided to introduce it in the assembly. “President Zardari has asked both the coalition partners to reach a consensus on the issue either amending SLGO 2001 system or bringing a new system,” said an official.
It is rumoured that MQM still supports the SLGO 2001 and opposes any changes into it, but the PPP wants to amend it. “The MQM has been assured that the local government system will be restored soon after seeking a third option acceptable to all coalition partners,” said the official.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2011.