Local bodies system: Pro-Mirza dissenters win PPP assurance
Strong dissent within the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party has forced its provincial leadership to pledge that it will retract a controversial step meant to appease coalition partner Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
In a move that could have massive political fallout in the province and the centre, party leaders of PPP Sindh have assured dissenting colleagues that the controversial local government system of 2001 would not be reinstated and that the 1979 system would be retained.
The 2001 system was initially abolished, but then brought back for Karachi and Hyderabad through an ordinance aimed at appeasing the MQM and bringing them back in the coalition fold. The ordinance still has to be approved by the Sindh Assembly before it lapses on November 6.
(Read: Let’s do it commissionery style)
The assurance came at a PPP parliamentary party meeting held at the Chief Minister House late Friday night, which was co-chaired by PPP parliamentary leader Pir Mazhar ul Haq and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah. On the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari, Federal Minister Khursheed Shah also attended the meeting to play the role of mediator between quarrelling party members.
Sources told The Express Tribune that, as the meeting began, Khursheed Shah announced: “I have come here on the directives of President Zardari. I assure you that no system will be introduced that will be against the wishes of people of Sindh. I request you to please calm down and be patient.”
Sources said that PPP parliamentary leader Pir Mazharul Haq said that President Zardari had also directed them not to introduce any system that may harm the party and its credibility. “You people are creating an impression that there is a forward bloc in the party. We will never ever compromise and bring back a dictator’s system that has been rejected by the assembly,” he was quoted as saying.
During the meeting, sources said, some members of the PPP exchanged hot words – including an argument between Minister for Local Government Agha Siraj Durrani and Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah on the issue of Dr Zulfiqar Mirza. However, Khursheed Shah intervened.
(Read: What’s 2001 minus 1979?: CDGK turns into KMC)
Sources said that the ministers who had been summoned by President Zardari, including Murad Ali Shah and Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, told the meeting that the PPP co-chairman had not instructed any party men to avoid meeting Mirza.
In fact, Khursheed Shah, the president’s new troubleshooter for Sindh, later visited Mirza at his home along with Memon and Murad Ali Shah. A spokesperson for the former home minister said that the visit was personal in nature.
Things had begun to spiral out of control for the PPP’s Sindh chapter – which was divided over support for Mirza. For the last few months, the deeply controversial former home minister has created a stir in the country’s politics by coming out strongly against a key government ally, the MQM, as well as some of his own party members – most notably Interior Minister Rehman Malik.
Mirza has since resigned from his home minister post, his seat in the Sindh Assembly as well as his party position. Though the PPP instantly distanced itself from his remarks in order to ensure that MQM rejoined the coalition government, there was still a great deal of support for Mirza’s stand.
Once there was a move to isolate Mirza by some senior leaders, there was strong dissent – which reached a point where some ministers refused to attend cabinet meetings or even private meetings with the chief minister.
(Read: Nazims vs commissioners: Er... sorry - we had some ‘technical’ difficulties)
In fact, even before Friday night’s meeting at the Chief Minister House, around six dissenting provincial ministers and 18 MPAs went to meet Mirza at his house, where they are reported to have discussed what stance to take on the matter.
“[Initially] these members were not willing to attend the meeting, but Khursheed Shah repeatedly called them to attend the meeting,” sources said.
A handout issued by the Chief Minister House said that the meeting expressed full confidence in the leadership of President Zardari and the Sindh chief minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 15th, 2011.
COMMENTS (19)
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@ Aamer Khawaj, people are still living peacefully in Karachi. There are many Balochi, Punjabis, Pakhtoon and Sindhi living in MQM dominated areas. Either you are not from karachi or simply lack knowledge. Nobody left and ran to banaras or Lyari, they still prefer living in MQM dominated areas. Go and check Gulshan-e-iqbal, PECHS, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, and many other areas, they still live there.
By the way, Bangladesh also has an elected local bodies system. Its political parties support democratic local elections. So why cannot Pakistan's?
Sindhvoice you are not knowledgeable about local government systems. The type of system is a rising force around the world. It is a rising force because it has virtues not delivered in other forms of local governance. The Chinese have used it to grow their economy. They have over 500 such systems. Closer to Pakistan, Turkey has around 16 such systems in their largest cities. Generally they are urban systems. Some countries have rural systems as well. Pakistan got a rural version because an earlier protoype was implemented in India in 1800s by Ripon, who didn't implement an urban version. At the time India was one of the earlier regions to get such a system. But, now it and South Asia) are far behind other countries in modernizing its systems. Not having such a system has consequences. Such systems have evoloved over time and come in different types. Cities are decentralized. They can be two tered, 3 tiered or more depending on size. They can be countywide systems (as the original system was) and they can extend to regional level-which Pakistan never got. In China there are over 300 regional systems and over 200 county systems. County systems are also contained within regional systems. They started on this path in the 1980s! Their formula is the Sought east Asian formula, also found in variations in Tokyo and Seoul. What is reflected in the 2001 system is an Anglo-French model.
A colonial system, designed to keep local people in check, and keep power in non elected peoples hands vs an elected system designed by a corrupt dictator to keep power in his un-elected hands. Hmmmmmmm which one of the two evils should i go for.
My personal opinion Elected system is always the best (as in place in all developed countries) just fix bugs planted by the dictator in the system.(like where funds come from, who allocates them, who are the local bodies answerable to, and there powers and jurisdiction)
@ J Sarwar Punjab can be divided into 3 parts, KPK 2 and Balochistan 2. However, the is no demand for dividing Sindh atleast in the near future.
I'm from Punjab but I appreciate Mr. Mirza for presenting Sindh's stance in a bravely manner. He is fighting for Sindh and Pakistan.
So Zia's version was better than Musharaf's version. Interesting
There is still time left to think honestly about creating more provinces in Pakistan for the sake of Pakistan. See the example of India and even Bangladeh these two countries cereated more provinces due to administrative and geo political reasons and achieved atremendous progress after creation more provinces.By ceating more provinces in Pakistan the civil unrest and agitation will be ceased. Sindh should have 2 province, KPk 2 province,Baluchstan 3 province and Punjab 3 province. We must think of one nation and unite ourself against all threats and external aggression.We should not fight on the basis of origin,language and caste.We should work together to make Pakistan a strong country. We must do justice to all citizens and eradicate corruption from our society. We must vote for honest and respectable person. If we donot act now the existance of Pakistan will be in danger.So we must unite as one naion as we were united in Pakistan movement.
@Aristo,
If people of Karachi thought like the people of interior sindh did, then many pathans, punjabis, balochi's would've been alive today and living peacefully.
Zulfiaqar mirza is the man of karachi, i salute on his bravery..
@Aristo: what speed, target killings, illegal occupation on public parks, government buildings, public flats, shopping malls, streets with barriers, no freedom of opinion ?
It's hard to believe anything or anybody.
Will MQM file for a divorce once again?
Mr Zulfiqar Mirza is talking what people at large have been taking in private circles. The system needs an over haul. Corruption needs to be eliminated. There has to be good governance.
I understand in interior of Sindh he has become a hero.
Having stated the above, the country is going through a rough patch and every one needs to think about the interest of the country first
@Sindhvoice:
No wonder interior Sindh continues to live in the stone age. People of Karachi & Hyderabad, however, want to progress at the speed that they experienced between 2002 - 2008. Looks like there is a huge gap between the two types of mindset. Karachi would not be what it is today, had the people of Karachi thought like you.
finally these dissenting young ppp lawmakers won the case
Whatever Mr. Mirza says is complete passion. Such a person only says the truth. Wish there were more people like him who will answer the call of their conscience.
God may give him long life and help him set the country on the righteous path.
People of Sindh want a fair and judicious local body system.if Mushraf Local Govt System would have been so rewarding then why every province REJECTED it??No province is ready to give it another life.In Sindh Mushraf allowed MQM to divide Hyderabad and unify Karachi to establish their engineered control over Karachi and Hyderabad.SLG system is against basic human rights and it create sense of division in Sindh.Big Reject for SLG 2001!!!! Hats off to Dr.Mirza for waging struggle to free the people of Sindh from terrorists and extortionists.
Dr.Mirza has won the hearts of people of Pakistan by exposing terrorists and extortionists.Hats off to him and to all those MPAs who support his bold stance.Secondly what sort of Justice is this in this so called Mushraf branded SLG system which divided Sindh as piece of cake among his supporters and his cronies established state within state.Is it justice when over 200 million population is to be made on district while a population of 2 Million district Hyderabad was converted in four districts...??? Isnt it unfair and just to appease MQM and his supporters.With all such policies of MQM trying to divide Sindh will fail.People of Sindh are not against local body system but they reject Mushraf SLG which ONLY FAVORS MQM.