Increased representation: Talk of governor’s rule stokes fears, says Memon

Sindh information minister says local body polls will be held soon.

HYDERABAD:

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon has said the provincial government is considering holding local government elections in the province. 

“The polls will be held at an appropriate time soon under the 1979 system,” he told reporters on Saturday.

However, Memon clarified that the 1979 law will be amended in consultation will all other political stakeholders.

The Pakistan Peoples Party is open to consultation with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the PML-Functional, he added. “Certain amendments will be made in the law to make it more representative.”

Reservations with the MQM

In his talk, the Sindh information minister said the PPP government had reservations about MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s statement in which the latter had claimed that the Urdu-speaking community was sidelined in Sindh. “All those who live in Pakistan are Pakistanis and those who live in Sindh are Sindhis. We don’t believe in racism.”

He added that the PPP government will discuss the MQM chief’s statement with Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad when he returns from his trip abroad.



Commenting on the statement of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Mumtaz Bhutto about the possibility of governor’s rule in
Sindh, Memon lamented that the provincial government had taken the helm only a few days ago, and Mumtaz was already warning of governor’s rule.

Memon was in Hyderabad on his first visit to his PS-50 constituency after taking oath as a member of the Sindh Assembly.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2013.