KARACHI: Governor Sindh Ishratul Ibad has signed the Sindh Peoples Local Government Ordinance, immediately bringing into effect a new system for governance in Sindh, Express News reported early Friday morning.
Earlier, Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah had signed a summary for the Ordinance and dispatched it to the Governor House.
The move comes after a marathon 11 hour meeting between representatives of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) who had seemingly finalised and then came unstuck on some finer points of the new system. However, sources told Express News that both the parties have agreed to resolve some of those finer points at a later date and bring them into effect as and when they are finalised.
Earlier, it had been reported that after hiccups, the two allied parties had finally agreed on a new local government formula.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon had told the media that PPP and MQM have evolved a consensus on the new local government system and an ordinance to bring the new system in to effect would be issued within a few-hours after resolving finer points.
Talking to media after attending the meeting of both the coalition partners (PPP-MQM) at CM House on Thursday, he said that government has consulted with PML F, PML Q and ANP and cabinet members would also be briefed on it.
There were reports that the new local government system would be named as “Peoples Metropolitan Corporation 2012” and metropolitan corporations would be setup in five divisions of Sindh including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas and Larkana. Meanwhile, there would be district councils in the rest of Sindh. Mayors and deputy mayors would head the metropolitan corporations and chairman and deputy chairman would tend to the affairs of district governments.
Chief metropolitan officers would also be appointed who will share the powers with commissioners in the metropolitan city, while commissioners and deputy commissioners would continue looking after the revenue and law order situation. The eighteen defunct towns of Karachi are also likely to be revived while the five districts would continue in order to ease the administrative affairs.
The leaders of both the political parties called it their success but avoided to further brief about silent features of the ordinance, which according to them would be issued shortly.
Meanwhile Sardar Ahmed, parliamentary leader of MQM in Sindh Assembly said that they would not leave CM House till the finalisation of ordinance draft. He avoided shedding light on it, but added that it would be a unified system seemingly because MQM is against the division of Sindh.
The reports pouring in from CM House said that political administrators would be appointed in all the towns and metropolitan cities who would perform the role of mayors till the local government elections are held.
Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Governor Sindh Dr. Ishtat ul Ebad Khan were also attended the hours long meeting. Farooq Sattar, Babar Ghauri, Wasay Jalil, Dr. Farukh Naseem, Kanwar Naveed Jamil were among others who represented MQM. While Agha Siraj Durrani, Ayaz Soomro, Murad Ali Shah, Rafique Engineer, Sharjeel Memon and Pir Mazhar ul Haq of PPP took part in the meeting.
Earlier, an framework agreed upon by the PPP and the MQM ran into snags when other parties such as the ANP and the PML-F raised objections to some aspects of the proposed system.
COMMENTS (41)
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@Danny: you asked why we sindhis dont want our prosperity,right?so if u pay your deep attention to the internal situation in sindh you will get the answer,mayor will just facilitate the interests of group that considers this move a step forward in the history of sindh.
the division of Sindh started at the time when quota system no the basis of rural and urban introduced. Now what is the problem?
Inshallah
Now the ball is in the nationalists court, LG system can abridge the Gap between rural and urban sindh. Else it can be a last nail in the coffin of ever lasting division, which could lead to very lethal consequences for the united SINDH. We the people of Karachi want our peace of share at any cost and so do the majority of Heydrabaad and sukkur.
@Sindhi_Pakistani, What is fair for you? As far as your logic that all provinces have rejected is concerned then just take a look at the condition of all the provinces, do you really think these politicians are sincere, if they were then they would have kept or improved on 2001 local body ordinance. Infact you are an example of our population who is crying against a system that actually give you power. talk about intelligence of our ppl. Funny thing is that everyone against local body and MQM run from their cities, villages, pind, to Karachi or Hyderabad especially from interior Sind but if anything is done to improve these cities, they will be against it. Bhai, why dont you raise your voice against your leaders and politicians who have not developed other cities. Why Larkana, Khairpur, Nawabshah, Tharparkar not developed? MQM is not interefering in these cities., Karachi generate revenue but more money has been spent in interior but there is no improvement. wh is to blame for that? You were provided quota system, which was unfair to ppl of Karachi and Hyderabad, so that ppl of rural Sind get educated and jobs, even then you did nothing to improve your lives but want to complain like a 2 year old for something which is good for Sind. Nobody can help you if you dont want to use your brain. Come out of your prejudices and biases, ANP or ppl like Shahi Syed are not sincere to SInd, or even Pakhtun Khuwa, why is that only MQM nazims, whether in Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas or Karachi worked for the betterment not other? Ponder and then decide who is sincere and how is not.
@Sindhi Pakistani:
Karachi was one city over five districts while Hyderabad district had four cities / towns thus both actions were justified. Musharraf's local government system was liked by everyone even within PPP and PMLN and if the public opinion is to be respected you should also not force commissioners on people of Karachi!
Have it their way Sindhi nationalist will like to retain Musharraf system everywhere except Karachi and Hyderabad because it works while the commissionerete system doesn't!
You also conveniently ignore the fact that there were strikes in Tandho Allahyar and Matiari by local people and PPP workers when the PPP government re-merged them with Hyderabad. Stop twisting facts. People of Sindh have never voted for JSQM and never will.
@Sindhi_Pakistani:
"People of Sindh are open to support any fair, justified and people friendly LG system but we are not ready to accept Mushraf regime system which was designed to weaken provincial autonomy and handover Urban Sindh to MQM and Rural Sindh to Waderas of PMLQ. It was against the will of people. And remember, no system can survive without the support of masses. I wish PPP-MQM should understand the sensitivities of majority and respect them and bring system which brings people of Sindh together not divide them. No to politics of division."
In USA the states are independent and the federation has very little say in their affairs, does that make the country of USA weak? then within a state each little town (mohalla) has its own city govt does that make that state as weak? I drive 13 miles to work and pass through three towns each have their own police.
It is in in interest of Karachi and SIndh that other towns progress as well and the difference is reduced, LG system is the best way to achieve it where each small town can have their own govt and develop their own revenue system (help from the province and federal would still be their) invite industries, encourage landlords to open the riches of the land for both the people and for themselves. So far the current system has done nothing, I have not seen any progress in towns like Dadu, khairpur etc, we cannot simply put the blame on others, this LG system will give the opportunity to people to demand the service they deserve at the local level, it would be difficult for the councillor to hide in Islamabad and become larger than life using the looted wealth. No party or social group whether it is MQM or PPP (waderas) can survive for long if they don't deliver in LG system. Whereas, they are hoodwinking you and me for ever under the current system
@Sindhi_Pakistani: Peoples Party truely represent Sindhi people since 1970 & do every thing which will benefit Sindh and Sindhis. The So called Nationalists are completely Negative Minded People, enemies of Sindh & Sindhis always damaged Sindh were partners of General Zia.
why they need metropolitan corporations while LGO 2001 was having more comprehensive and complete system of local self-governance through the people by the people and for the people, while this dirty democratic parties want old birtish raaj of DMG and officer-king model back in bureaucratic rule neglecting the empowerment of local communities, what is the main reason behind all this system now.... in my opinion only to take Bhatta (bribes) from Rehri walaz and local thekedarz and then shift all these illegal monies within the hierarchy of afsar shahi through MCs upto the CM of the province... which they call "CHAIN OF COMMAND"... the LGO 2001 was reallly empowering local communities with all the civility and civic facilities and best governance practices possible in that system of local self rule of the poor and common citizen.
@Sindhi_Pakistani
What is wrong with mashraff LG system .Please point out .If you live in Karachi you should be really happy about it .
Secondly PPP and MQM hold 90 % seats in sindh they are given right by the people of sindh.
Its just like typical pakistani sterio type
WE do not do any good thing and we will not let you do any thing Unfortunate isnt it.
It is first step towards division of sindh, sindhi people reject this Ordinance completely.
Lol you don't know the details of the proposal yet you are sure it is bad @Pakistani in Qatar:
It is the first effort of political leadership which should be wel comed. Commenting without reading the text is highly deplorable. Both original and new sindhis should shade their differences once for all. The benefit of ordinance depends on will of the people who execute it. If MQM can utilize their workers for development as well as politics why sindhi leadership cant do it?
@Sindhi_Pakistani kindly answer why in karachi "CITY"/district LYARI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND MALIR DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY were made side by side with "KARACHI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY" WHYYYYYY???
What a joke by from ANP as they said they don’t want system made by DICTATOR But want the local government system of 1979 to be run…
@Blithe: Correction: DMG group was backbone of British India...if you still want to live as slave then its ok to revive DMG group and none of the civic amenities will be available to you. If you remember karachi before 2002 you can certainly comprehend to what i am saying
@fus: For your kind information, Not just Sindhis, but other three provinces have also already rejected Mushraf LG System. Majority of Pakistan is on one page to reject Mushraf's system which he brought to favor his cronies and support base. A system against the WILL of people is never going to succeed.
Looks like this is another step towards Mohajirstan.
@Blithe: I think you want the country to be remain backward.......with commissioner system of British
@Danny, exaclty, i fail to understand how can ppl of Sindh be against of a system which gives them power, I guess ppl are so blind in hatred towards MQM then they dont see rationally. Use your brain and understand the power the vote. Change your lives by electing good ppl, starting with local bodies. Same ppl who complain about local body dont question their ministers who have done nothing in last 60 years for common person of Sindh but are first one to raise voice against MQM who has done atleast something for the areas that were under their Nazims.
The system was never an issue it was the ppl who were elected so elect the right ppl.
A great decision for the people who doesn't want to be ruled by bureaucrats. People of Karachi are the decadents of those souls who never accepted any one-else superiority over them. Local body system is a system for civilised people while commissionerate system was introduced by britishers in the sub continent to rule their slave, and unfortunately that slavery is still coming down to the generations of gora sahab slaves but now the only difference is that there is Dark brown sahab. Karachi saw its bright days under this system, and as being a karachiiet i want LB system back for further development, though i still hope to see this system all over pakistan especially in rest of the sindh to see my Sindhi brothers prospering and getting more civilised and yes out of their wadera rule to saveguard their next generations.
No other city has right to oppose it as this is and was the demand of the people of Karachi and Heyderabad. Karachi was divided from 5 districts in to "18" yes "18" towns for better administration, which has bee proved by the development. May ALLAH grant his guidance to my sindhi brothers, so that they raise their voice against brown sahab rule and wish to see their children in ruling elite, or else people of KARACHI and HEYDERABAD still want their due share by love and respect or by danda but we want our share of administration for the areas we live and want to develop for our future generations.
At least PPP-MQM trying to bridge between the people of Sindh and bringing the system at least poor people will get benefit of this rather than rich. Every effort to bring permanent residence of Sindh closer should be appreciated from all corner of the society since Sindh needs to progress.....rather than try to keep people sindhi people backward and non progressive. We live in 21st century.......and still many conspirator wants division between people of Sindh so that Sindh could not progress because of so called nationalist and this nationalist never brought any progress to their native people living in their areas. Just Politics of hate for personal gains will destroy the Sindh and people of Sindh.
@Danny, Pls see things in their context. Reply my question first, why five districts of Khi merged into one and hyd into 4? is it justified? In the presence of Assembly session, how can a Governor issue an ordinance, what is use of democracy and assembly then? It means, PPP-MQM are going to impose LG system. People of Sindh are open to support any fair, justified and people friendly LG system but we are not ready to accept Mushraf regime system which was designed to weaken provincial autonomy and handover Urban Sindh to MQM and Rural Sindh to Waderas of PMLQ. It was against the will of people. And remember, no system can survive without the support of masses. I wish PPP-MQM should understand the sensitivities of majority and respect them and bring system which brings people of Sindh together not divide them. No to politics of division.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqi: How much money did Mustafa kamal make when he was heading the local govt.?
@Blithe: In how many countries have you seen non elected people managing cities. It is the people's representatives who better understand the dynamics of the cities and respond to it. very disapponiting comment
I am Sindhi and I support this system. I hope it will evolve further and include all other districts of Sindh. Mayors need to be given more powers and system should be transparent, so that we know how much money a district has earned, how much money a district has received, and where it is being spent. The only thing that Sindh government needs to make sure is to prevent racial, religious and sexual discrimination in those local governments.
Dont worry folks.. This is another card being played by Zardari :).. As soon he wins seats in the election he will throw in another card(ordinance) and get rid of this system in a flash to keep the nationalists happy. Right now for elections it is important to keep MQM happy.
A great step for DEMOCRACY. For all that state why is MQM still with PPP led govt. This is how you change the system; by remaining a part of it and fight for your rights.
General Election delaying tactics..
A common citizen does not have access to these people. That is the whole point of a democratic system where you can 'elect' some one to represent you in your local area and you can 'fire' him if he/she does not work.
I seriously want to know is there no Sindhi who think's that they should have local government system in Dadu, Badin, Nawabshah, Sukkur, Khairpur, etc. and you would rather want some wadera to rule you over??? or just because you hate/dislike MQM that you would oppose anything they say even if it hurts you?
@Sindhi_Pakistani: We all saw how much work has been done since abolishment of LG. ZERO!! LG was a great system!!
Well done MQM....
The notion of divide and rule still prevails. Man, we are not willing to learn from our mistakes. History will keep smiling at us!
The notion of divide and rule still prevails. Man, we are not willing to learn from our mistakes.History will keep smiling at us!
Its nice to hear that some adjustment have been made between the parties. We all happy about such agreement because we have predicted that these agreement will be beneficial for us and would create prosperity for us. If we presume that these are just division of sources and would not be able to create prosperity then we will say that such agreement should not be done. Even that we are hopeful for the mangoes which never know that they will become mangoes. God Bless Us.
When will Karachi residents will be included in " Say of people of Sindth" . Perhaps never as the leaders of rural Sind wants to rule masses by never giving them real power, all the power and vote back only remains till the poor population remains un-educated & deprived.
The solutions is power to the people, not only vote power but power of education sp that the masses can make just decisions and will enable them to identify the fake and false rulers who have made interior Sind 500 years backward then urban Sind for last 60 years
No matter if the Commissionaire System stay back or the Local Bodies System, the bottom line is will the bribes and the corruption will come to an end by introducing the new system in cities and the districts?
If the answer to my above question is NO, than I am not interested what ever may happen as for me it bring zero result as far as the problems of the masses are concerned.
In Dictator Mushraf time, Five districts of Karachi were merged into one and while Hyd district (1.5 Million population ) was divided into 4 to facilitate MQM. It was a mala fide step against people of Sindh. People of Sindh were expecting that once dictator would leave and PPP will be voted in power so it will end all injustices meted to Sindh in the time of dictator. But Alas! PPP failed miserably and for the sake of staying in Govt, they are willing to compromise on any principle and even the interests of Sindh and Sindhis.
PPP-MQM alliance has not worked on developing bridges between people but they are going to bring LG system which will increase divide in society. Very sad for country and specially for people of Sindh. All sane voices from PTI, PMLN, JI and Nationalist forces should come forward to resist Pseudo Local Govt system. People of Sindh are looking at you whether you stand by them or not.
Great going.....Ruin the country for personal gains. This is sad news and makes no sense.
If PPP-MQM Govt thinks they will get away with any anti-Sindh LG system, they live in fool's paradise. Without the say of people of Sindh, no system will prevail.
Musharraf made a huge anti-Pskistan move by destroying DMG group . That was the backbone of Pakistan that has now been broken ,