Sindh LG Act: ‘Passage of law violation of democratic norms’

Speakers criticise the act, dubbing it beneficial for a single party only.

ISLAMABAD: Whereas Sindhis are not against decentralisation, the passage of the controversial Sindh Local Government Act 2012 is unacceptable to them. They see it as an undemocratic decision, aimed to benefit a particular party in the province.

This was the crux of a seminar discussion held at Shah Latif Community Centre on Sunday. “The Sindh assembly passed this act in such haste that members of the assembly were neither provided its copies nor the permission to comment on it at any forum,” said Jami Chandio, writer and rights activist.

Chandio opined that the act has been promulgated by a nexus of feudal and fascist elements and they have not only violated the democratic norms but also legislative procedure by the passage of the law.

“We protest not the decentralisation but the way it has been chosen, negating all the principles of democratic decentralisation,” he said.



Furthermore, the most alarming factor is that while in the 18th Amendment, only 17 ministries were transferred to the provinces, this act has transferred 47 subjects to the local government specifically the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) which is the prime ally of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), he said.

Naseer Memon, development expert and political analyst, said the mainstream media in Pakistan has put such controversial issues on the back burner, which is why the common man is yet to understand the gravity of the situation. “According to the act, five districts of Karachi have been merged into one metropolitan corporation while similar districts have been divided into more than one metropolitan corporation.”

Expressing concern over certain provisions of the act, he said that Chapter Seven of the law delineates the role of Provincial Finance Commission (PFC).

“Now,” he continued, “Clause 126(2) stipulates that the recommendations shall be based on the principles of fiscal need, capacity, effort and performance that will mainly benefit Karachi and Hyderabad.”

He added that poverty and human development have not been made basis for recommending grants. “Interestingly, poverty carries weightage in the NFC award but the same is missing in the PFC award.” He remarked that Sindh is no more a stronghold of PPP, which seems to have lost the “unconditional love” of its people.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2013.