Despite claims by the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) that they have evolved consensus over the draft for a new local government system in Sindh, serious differences between the two coalition partners remain.
Consensual legislation on the local government system seems well-nigh impossible in the near future after Sindh Minister for Local Government Agha Siraj Durrani hinted at a serious “deadlock” over the matter between the two parties. “Legislation on the issue is not an easy task,” said the minister.
Talking to the media after hosting an Iftar dinner party, the minister said that MQM has been demanding that certain provincial departments be put under their control as part of the district government in Karachi — demands which were not reasonable, according to Durrani.
Without quoting the names of the specific departments, he said: “Those departments are being demanded by the MQM which have never been part of the district government. How can one devolve them to the district government now?” he questioned rhetorically.
However, the minister claimed to have evolved 80% consensus between the two parties on the new system’s draft but revealed that serious differences persist on some 20 per cent of the draft.
“The core committee cannot resolve the issue but it will submit its recommendations to the leadership of both parties who can decide the matter,” he said.
Meanwhile, sources in the party said that the MQM has been demanding that the revenue department be placed under the control of the district government. They added that the stress was to empower the mayor of the city — who should have complete authority over the police and traffic system of Karachi.
Not only PPP, but MQM leaders have also been announcing for the last two months that they have evolved significant consensus on major issues and that they would move the Sindh Assembly to pass new legislation soon after Eid. But sources within the ruling party said that it was not possible for PPP to compromise by handing over the revenue and police department to the district government.
Similarly, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah told reporters that it was not easy to pass legislation on the local government system because they needed more time to work on it.
Sources privy to the development revealed that MQM, despite being a coalition partner of the government, has started negotiations with other political forces in Sindh for the upcoming elections.
However, MQM Deputy Convener Farooq Sattar said that they have not yet decided the future course of action regarding the upcoming election alliance and consensus on the local government system is yet to be evolved.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 16th, 2012.
COMMENTS (31)
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After the partition the influx of people have given nothing, but have polluted the institutions established by we educated people of this province specially SIndhi Hindus.
@sain no wonder you are the same creature that drags the whole pakistan in the backward era of stoneage. I buy a shop for 80 lakh, pay 5 lakh bribe to get electric and gas connection from sindi (palijo bureaucrat), and before i make any money.. a cart pusher opens a burger shop infront of my shop.. take kunda light and just give monthly bhutta to POLICE to stay there.. he blocks the footpath, that was designed to my ease of walk, If he fell sick.. he use same hospital..which was established by my tax given funds... and you talk SENSE?
we created Pakistan, who migrated from india. otherwise you were living like a dead as you do today. WE do not came for your LOVE- we came for islam and Jinnah callings brought us here... You (who dont even understand self existence) cannot ask me to leave.
I on the other hand must tell you to Behave! behave as human.
Everyone is allowed to come karachi, But then dont occupied Ill-legal Hills, dont create Ill-legal Goths- Dont Pollute street- Care for your youth, plundering in crimes-Dont bring Guns-Dont bring Heroin- Dont Pollute our schools- dont pollute our hospitals- Because in Karachi, it is our TAX money that created it!!!!!!!! Dont bring bhutto to Karachi, although they were well educated-- but they did not even done anything for Larkana- not even a single english medium school~
@sain: Actually, these people are blind due to ethnic thinking, they claim karachi as their private property.
the Mohajir province tahreek will again be kicked off after Eid ul Firt in order to mount pressure on government to accept the demand. Everyone knows who is demeaning it.
@Karachiwala you better know who collect the bhaata,no police collect bhaat the political parties have there bhata incharges,
All pakistani citizen are free to live any where in the country if you say like it,sindhi can ask y muhajir(the people who migrated from india) come here in pakistan better u talk to ur local(indian and earn and eat there)this is nonsesnse that u ask from people that they should ask from there represnsititive,than any one can raise same question that muhajir should ask there representive in india abt the same question u raised,
why mqm have diffrent stance for karachi and other cities of sindh?? they want karachi to be 4 district in one city and on other hand they seprated hyderabaad?why any one can answer?
For example: The revenue is collected from Karachi is rupess RS. 1000 <((from private sector, common man, small business, indirect taxation through salestax, import tax, export tax, car buy and sell tax, land buy and sell tax))> That 1000 is given to Islamabad to distribute it in Four province. Most of it around 600 goes to Punjab Govt. and around 220 comes back to the Sindh Govt. That Sindh govt has to spend that 220 on whole province.
Fact: (if they spend that 220 without corruption for 3 years, the whole sind would become tourist destination)
But they use that funds on Ghost schools, ghost hospitals, fake power projects, fake water and sewege supple, fake donations to Flood victims, Fake spending on infrasturcture (the whole province is in ruins, and looks like a desert). recently came to know around 1.5 lakh Fake teachers, who draw salary from sindh budget.
Even the Karachi share is not given accordingly.
The cycle goes like this>> keep the commisioner system (some one like asad ullah dharejo) who can protect our interest.>>> commisioner has the power to change Dig, SP, DSP,SHO, inspector, sub-inspector, ASI, and havaldaar.>>. the police let the illegal markets/vendors open on street and collect BHUTTA from them>>> pass bhutta to commisioner>> he pass the share to the minister>>> in that whole process>>> The whole province is influxed into Karachi>>>croweding it so much that the basic need in govt hospital has vanished (oxygen cylinder) forget good service>>> the populace who dont get any small business running>>>start thier career in crimes... and thus.. you repeat this from all over pakistan..you will create exact match of MESS in karachi.
All people are welcome in Karachi, but you MUST-MUST-MUST ask your representative in your area, whom you elected, who take funds on your name.... Why didnt he create opportunity in your Home city? Why not a single hospital?
The demand for police control for the sake of Local Bodies, not for the MQM and PPP.
Karachi DOES deserve to have its own local policing system, people who know the city and the neighbourhoods. This is happening in all metropolitan cities of the world. I am sure the problem of PPP is that once they give these crucial posts to the MQM Mayor (who by the did the best work this city has ever seen), they will have have to answer for their own actions in their own localities. This is a government whose ministers are illiterate enoguh to support the Water Car idea so openly and enthusiastially. On the other hand, Mustafa Kamal and his team gave some real shine to the city which is the backbone of Pakistan. These illitierate feudal lords will have to answer why they are not doing any development in their areas for their people who elect them every year. They dont wanna compete with Mustafa Kamal and likes.
It will be good for the province if these departments are given to district govt to run day to day affair. This will eventually generate development in other cities and towns as well, as they will try to attract more revenue, and there therefore the heavy dependence on Karachi will be reduced and therefore better for PPP in the long run.
MQM first contested local body elections in 1987 and won heavily from Karachi and Hyderabad. So, they have an experience of proximately 25 years in their hand. The last tenure starting from 2005 to 2009 the CDGK with Mr. Mustafa Kamal as city nazim added their experince to govern a maga city tremendously. I think if MQM has gone logger heads with the PPP provincial leadership must have based on their previous experiences and the type of experience they have no other political party have as Karachi is the only city of Pakistan with a whooping population of almost 20 million, so, if they are asserting on subjects which were never a part of previous CDGK setup or never included in the SLGO nust have been based on their past experiences so they make a point out here and they should be listened. We can never progress if we don't remove the hurdles which come in way. But here i guess hurdle means MQM i may be wrong but thats what seems.
@Ash: budget ? the recent audit reports reveals that more than 100 billion rupees have been bungled by the district governments and major share of misappropriating the funds goes to the credit of Karachi and Hyderabad district governments.
Depoliticising the society, through decentralization of politics, will create a million states within the state in an ethinicity dominated society like ours.
What is wrong in asking for revenue and police control? It will give control of revenue and police of sukkur, hyderabad and other cities to their local representatives be it PPP, PTI, or PML.
Local Govt. discussions, negotiations,meetings are now over four years old and probably carry on until close to election. It is quite possible that PPP will show few carrots to MQM and persuade them to compromise all over the country and help them in winning the next election. They are v. likely to offer to make few different committees,start meetings-discussions and negotiations. They will not share or give any power or funding, to any one.
@Ash: So it took you more than four years to realize that PPP govt is corrupt.
What MQM is demanding is not an awkward or Unusual demand as posed by Mr. Durrani. These illiterate PPP ministers don't have a clue that all big cities in the world have their own budget, Police and revenue and they all come under the Mayor. MQM demand is genuine and if PPP don't accept it then there is no point staying in this corrupt government. MQM should pull the plug now..
This is no brainer, Karachi police must be accountable to the Mayor. Same should be true for every district.
PPP want control of finances and pocket them, MQM should not allow it,better get out of the govt,they are corrupt.
Shan Nasir@. Ya. the law enforcement agencies be given under control of mayor. We value your comments. I think the day will come when this demand comes to fore by Muttahida
The only way to bring peace in Karachi is through local policing. Karachites deserve their law enforcement agencies.
this is totally drama being staged by ruling party to engage MQM in the negotiation to prolong its tenure. The PPP wants to gain more time and will never ever agree to hold the LG elections as per wishes of its coalition partner MQM. The latter is dreaming of controlling the revenue powers by gaining authority on land in Karachi and sub-urban areas under its purview, but leaders of ruling party are hurdles in its way.
we request the leadership of both the parties to please expedite the negotiation and evolve consensus on LG system, which is the only solution to redress the problems at gross root level
@Adnan Siddiqi: Yes you are right, he is running the province as his feifdom and providing better education, healthcare, transportation, road network and security than the other three provinces.
how they were claiming to reach the consensus? I wondered to know that MQM has been demanding to control on police after the street power.
@Adnan Siddiqi:
Are you sincere to Pakistan? Look into yourself first and then cast the stone towards others.
It has been reported in the media that the coalition partners have distributed parchis for fitra in their influenced areas. People are so frightened that no one has registered a case in the police. Ban these parties and see the result, Karachi will be peaceful.
Both parties are fooling the poor people of Karachi since a long time. No one is interested in solving our real issues like target killing, bhatta khori and parchi system.
Don't worry this has to be resolved soon as this is a promise by AZ to AH...
Both parties involved are not sincere with Pakistan. Over in Punjab, situation much worse, shahbaz shreef is a self proclaimed dictator of Punjab who is running the province like his personal fiefdom.