Deliberations continue: Local govt ordinance a no-show on Tuesday

PPP and MQM have reportedly agreed on a system, but coalition partners are not happy.

KARACHI:

After 36-hour-long deliberations the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and its coalition partner Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) have reportedly agreed on a new local government system for the entire province, but the ordinance for bringing it about, expected to be issued on Tuesday, has been delayed due to some differences.

Sources say both parties have agreed to revive the 2001 system with amendments, but the issuance of the ordinance has been delayed due to internal resentment within the PPP, as well as differences with other coalition partners.

A series of marathon meetings were held at the Governor and Chief Minister houses on Tuesday but the ordinance was not issued till the filing of this report. Earlier in the evening, Sindh Governor Dr Isratul Ebad had said that all issues have been resolved and he would sign the ordinance by Tuesday night.

Coalition partners unhappy

Following reports of a revival of the 2001 local government system, various political parties, including coalition partners of the Sindh government, expressed their resentment.

“We have communicated to the PPP leadership that … Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) is in favour of the commissionerate system,” said PML-F leader Pir Pagara in a statement.

“We will not accept if any system is imposed without our consent,” Pir Pagara said, adding that PPP has not taken his party into confidence yet.

Meanwhile, General Secretary Awami National Party (ANP) said his party would try to convince the PPP that Musharraf-introduced local government system failed to address the problems faced by people in the province.

Shaharyar Mahar of PML-Quaid said this was yet another blunder the PPP was going to make in Sindh while Sindhi nationalists announced they would launch a campaign against the proposed ordinance. PPP leader Pir Mazharul Haq reportedly phoned ANP President Shahi Syed and PML-F leader Imtiaz Shaikh, assuring them that the ordinance would not be issued without their input.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2012.