File photo of Sindh Assembly. PHOTO: ONLINE/FILE
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) members walked out of the assembly in protest against the bill, but the party would still take part in the local body elections according to a party spokesperson.
Senior provincial minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro presented the bill in the assembly.
The bill was debated earlier as the MQM representatives said it was unfair to discuss a bill that had not been read by all members present. Chants of “shame” could be heard as MQM protested vocally.
“A draft was shared with us online, however that was a draft. We did not have enough time to read this huge document. How can we discuss something unless all members of the assembly have read the bill?” asked MQM representative Faisal Subzwari.
“Only 10% of the assembly has received copies of the bill,” he added.
The bill on Sindh Local Government Law 2013 was prepared by the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government in Sindh in compliance with the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s orders to hold the LG election by September 15.
Former major coalition partner, MQM was adamant that the Sindh Peoples Local Government Law 2012, which was passed by both PPP and MQM, be implemented. The government, on the other hand, has chosen to go ahead with a new law built on the framework of the 1979 system.
Nisar Khuhro defended the bill by saying "Municipalities are still currently running. So why is there a problem if everyone agrees to pass a bill?"
"If an overwhelming majority accepts a bill, they are representing Sindh. If everyone says local government can benefit our people, why shouldn't we ago ahead with it?" Khuhro added.
A resolution to change the required minimum age to 21 years for eligibility to run local body elections was also suggested during the session.
COMMENTS (42)
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@sohail khan: A very logical reasoning.
Wadera's sindh government is run by the taxes of urban sindh but these waderas do not want to give legitimate rights to urban sindh as per example of other mega cities in the world. So why we karachiites should give tax for the benefits of these waderas !
@ashar: leave it asher , the performance of PTI, in KPK , is enoughto bring back few of our votrs who drifted . Another point true enlightened karachiite abhors nepotism and family politics the award of part tickets to family members in KPK , and all the jaali degrees will do the needful for the people to make up their minds in local body. Lastly i am sure u are aware that Alvi saheb is summirily sidelined during karachi visit. by the the disillusioned khan , he has no vision and programme for karachi. It will be total waste of votes if PTI is consodered in LG election. I tink best is to have empowered directly elected mayor like all mega citie of the world , I wish few unbias enligtened politicians get together across party lines and devise plans for all big cities on the ptteren of Newyork , London Paris Tehran Istanbul , ........it is high times it is realised the needs and working and and administration of mega cities which are multi ethnic in nature are entirelt different then small cities and villages. You call cosmetic changes , Musfata did his best with all the limitation. It is a shame that ones bias and prejudice does not permit to praise where it is due. We need Mustafa again..
@ashar: Did not impress !
Few words more. The whole debate is to have a system that caers to the needs of present day mega city. Karachi is being controlled by more thatn 20 departments/agencies. 2001 system also had flaws, one of them was it did not give control of the city under one authority.
In 1988, MQM was in no position to talk about LG system as it was their first win and they had no idea what other system would be a better one.
Octroi was really a great source of income. But abolishing it simply is proof that no party/governent is ready to see Karachi being self suffecient and progressing under MQM Mayor. This is proven fact all mainstream, nationalist, religious parties are united against MQM just to eat the flesh of Karachi like vultures once they succeed in dethroning MQM from Karachi.
MQM is not scarred. They had been involved in talks for such system for the last 5 years and they are doing still now and rightly so. Because designing a LG system is not a job which is done on daily basis, so MQM is giving 100% to ensure that Sindh gets a LG systems that is capable of delivering the services.
To all the above asking the analogy behind my comments, please recall that MQM have already contested and won the elections of 1987 and Mayor of MQM has worked successfully during his tenure under the system of 1979. Now why we are asking the system of SLGO 2001 while the financial conditions of the Local bodies would be no different in that system too , from that of 1979. Then what is the difference. The difference is the Octroi system of KMC that was taken away by GOP under NS and hence the KMC has since been deprived of the finances it require for the development of the City and rely on matching grant that has been promised but never made to compensate the octroi income. The Budget of KMC, before that used to be larger than that of entire province of Baluchistan if any body can recall. Well, MQM has spilt the milk by not redeeming the octroi tax for Karachi during the Musharaf period when the matter could easily have been passed from the Parliament as well to make it a law for the future. Even when NS contacted them for the vote for President the same was not discussed. Yes, they want 2001 system back then what they expect to do with it without having Musharaf in the center who actually ran the whole show by providing the Nazim unlimited amount of money to spent for Karachi cosmetic development that he made during his period and made himself famous through extensive media coverage.
As for me, MQM is scared of contesting the elections of local bodies in the cities after the advent of PTI in the May 11 elections and they know their position from within. Therefore, they want to gain time and this is the right move towards boycotting the entire local bodies elections by not accepting it in the first place.
@True Karachiwala: very true
@Blunt: Why you didn't ask the same question to Nawaz and Benazir who loathed General Musharraf but took part in elections held under him.
Forget about the counselors or Nazims , even mayors has to take permission from the commissioner, deputy commissioner and sindh local body minister to perform anything including monetary policy or taking dicision to impose taxes.......what a joke by PPP government and all those who supported this legislation . its so early but some of my relatives starting regrating voting pti.
what a myopic vision the rulers of sindh are , MQM just wishes that Karachi my homeland is run by the system which is in practice all over the worl , here in london , in paris in newyork ,in reodejanero, in teharan , in istanbul............................................... All mega cities are actually mini form of that country therefore it should be run by giving empowered representation and wide control on administration .I just wish that we have directly elected mayor in all big cities of Pakistan ,and this brings a sense of belonging to the citizens with their adminstrator , like mustafa days i wish it returns , and lagislators do their job that is formulation of laws and acquring funds .Some learned person rightly said if we follow real democracy at tertiary level all corruption among MNAs and MPAs would stop when fuds are not released to them for roads and drainage .All serious minded people of intellect and expertise would go for election of National and Provincial assemblies
Start now "Make Karachi and Hyderabad a separate Province". We donot need Sindhi feudals rule. Say yes to progress and prosperity.
@Blunt: your comment proves you right as blunt.
@Aiman Kay: Interesting to know where PTI stands on this bill?
A very apt query. PTI is playing hypocrite, as their supporters are doing. They know MQM is right on this issue but cant stop themselves from being two faced.
@Ammar: The LB system is not as per MQM's wishes, but it is the system that is delivering world wide. Your PTI is too taking credit of bringing a system which is totally different from that of Sindh and Punjab.
Just take off the specs of bigotry and do not insult the mandate of Karachiites. Does the progress of Karachi harm you or Pakistan ? A good local government system, as advocated by MQM, will prove to be the biggest "tabdilee".
Demography of Urban & Rural Sindh is so diffrent that there should be two systems or Urban Sindh should be given its own legilative assemblies to maintain the fairness. Is there any one who disagree it the diffrences of urban & rural part ??? Only those who do not want to respect Mohajirs and thier elected members.
@Farhan: @ashar: Exactly how does this analogy apply?
My question too ?
@arzal ahmed: Its sad to see how people like u have made a mind of not accepting karachi as part of Sindh. karachi was always part of Sindh so u cant exclude.
@Aysha M: For once I agree with your statements. If we are talking about the city of Karachi then you are right. However, if you go off on a rant about MQM and Mohajirs then it becomes a different story.
@arzal ahmed: how pertinent u are , i feel equally sad , we are even worsely treated then african americans. we will remain second rather third class citizens , qouta system is still there denying right of jobs and education , Isnt it an irony that there is no urban rural qouta in rest of the four province . How long it will go on like this no body knows
Recent decision by PPP govt to introduce LBS in sindh assembly with the support of Sindhi Nationalist and other Tanga parties reveals a biased and arrogant mindset toward Urban sindh from the SONS OF SOIL. No matter how logical and and people empowered LBS system proposed by MQM, it will never get accepted since the Sindhi nationalist (Non elected) and (ANP-PML) so caled SONS OF SOIL are opposed to the proposal, and if is this the only criteria then what the point to hold election in KARCHI and HYDERABD. I as a Karachitie really feel humiliated and disgraced and found myself to be inline with the Black Americans, but atleast a black American can became the President, but a Urdu speaking can never be the CM of sindh, what else one need to be a second grade citizen. Karachi alone contributes 25% of the total GDP of Pakistan, and 70% of total revenue of Pakistan,as compare to Sindh's 30% share in GDP of Pakistan. And if we excluded the Karachi from the Sindh, then the rural Sindh's share would be nothing more the KPK or Baluchitan.I as a Karachitie holds the right to ask why should I pay my bills and taxes to the govt who represents only Rual Sindh, and doesn't give any imporatnt and respect to mandate of Urban Sindh, just because we r not "SONS OF SOIL". This show of arrogance and humiliation toward the Urban Sindh mandate will only widen the alreay found rift b/w Urban and Rural Sindh and will more allienate the people of Urban Sindh. MQM should protest over this attitude with full voice, and should also exposed this mindset of these socalled "SONS OF SOIL" towards the Urban Sindh.
It would be in fitness of things if MQM brings out a white paper on the newly passed law and learly set out the points on which they pressed but the rural run PPP government refused. If PPP due to its majority is seeking to dienfranchise the urban population then mqm has full rights to bring the urban areas to a standstill. If the rural officials and parliamentarins with limited mentality and ethnic bias want to bring down Karachi to the level of sindh's goths, then it is mqm's full democrativpc right to oppose such a move tooth and nail. What PPP fails to realize is that by treating its urban areas in this manner, it is itself casting the seeds of division in this province. It fails to realize that a prosperous Karachi would have been a beacon for the whole of Sindh. If PPP was indeed sincere it would have striven to be proud of its cities rather than strive to throttle them through biased and myopic actions. A heavy responsibility now lies on the shoulders of MQM.
Pathetic it is when people who claim to be enlighted and do not realise karachi needs a system with wide authority on various organs , of administration. Why is not karachi treated like all mega cities of the world , like newyork , like london like tehran , like istanbul , Over here in the UK , directly elected mayor of london over an area termed as greater london has done wonders for a mega city inhabited by multiple ethnic groups .Who says MQM is looking for something special for urdu speaking people only , MQM looking for a mayoral system of their tier of govt which reaches out to all at their door steps .Only an honest prime minister who is thinking beyond party lines and ethnicity , would agree on a system where people are empowered to the lowest level. i would request PTI to sit with MQM and find a solution for the benefit of karachi , thats what voting patteren suggest that people have voted largely for MQM and to a lesser extent for PTI , if PTI walas have true motivation to serve karachi , they would tackle sind govt , which trying to buldoze a system which totally refused by elected members of karachi ,and other cities of sind. This tantamount to defranchising urban sidhis.
PTI says if this bill is against drons and dose not name the taliban then they have no problems with it
@Talha Rizvi: Thanks. We have to stay united for Karachi.We will fight for a powerful city government at all cost My heart bleeds when I move about in my comfortable and air conditioned car and see people on bus tops, it feels I am having a 5 course meal before starving people. Karachi deserves better, my city earns for the whole country and yet remains dispossessed and deprived. Enough is nearly enough, injustice leads to territorial changes. All parties should show solidarity and deep commitment support a powerful city government before all of this snowballs into something irreversible
Dr Alvi should raise this issue in the National Assembly. It would be a litmus test and will clearly establish if PTI has any interest in Karachi,
@Asad,
Let's assume your argument then why should federal government rule areas of Sindh or KPK where they have no majority?
@Ammar: When all parties have agreed to LG1979, it clearly establishes that none of these parties have the interest of urban sindh at heart.
And please enough of casting aspersions on MQM's mandate. It is not possible to rig elections for 3 decades in the presence of a vibrant and hawkish media, bitter political adversaries, powerful army, and independent judiciary, just enough of mindless allegations
And yes MQM had to stage this drama because they believe that city government is the third tier and bedrock of governance and democracy. Power needs to be devolved to the grass root levels
@ Ayesha and Talha: The system of Local Government being introduced in Karachi is almost 95 % same as in Lahore. Why do you think it is injustice to Karachi ?
For Talha, lets not think about this law from ethnic point of view. If new census is conducted, majority of Karachiite are ethnically non-Urdu speakers/Muhajirs. If your logic is applied why should Karachi South, East and Malir be ruled by a party which does not have majority mandate in those districts.
MQM obviously has no options here, if they confront PPP, PPP will turn like a devil and start messing things around in karachi with the help of their gangsters
MQM also doesnt want to turn karachi ugly because of the opposition, they have learnt their lessons
MQM has grown up fully now, its doing the proper opposition politics, but it doesnt want the benazir, nawaz shareef opposition
bill will be passed whether MQM votes against it or not, PPP has the numerical majority to do just anything
but the real loser is PPP itself, if it fails to deliver, by god, sindh will completely bull doze people's party, or t least i hope so
MQM should start preparing for next elections because its MQM days in the coming time in sindh
no human or even animal wants to get treatment like how PPP does
The PPP Sindh government knows well that Karachi and Hyderabad local elections will be won by MQM-backed candidates. They also know that once MQM wins and with their mayor in place, given past good performances of MQM at the city level (Mustafa Kamal's tenure 2005-2010), there are high chances that MQM will perform well again. And with great performace, MQM will increase its popularity yet again (which is what also happened in the past). This is EXACTLY the reason why PPP did not want to hold the local government elections at the first place.
But then, when the PPP Sindh government was forced by the Supreme Court to make arrangements for local body elections, they had to come out with some form of a bill to satisfy the orders. And here is what the bill is themed upon: keep the money in control. Through this bill, the PPP Sindh government has ensured that they keep the funds and revenue generation in their hands, so that the local bodies of Karachi and Hyderabad are forced to rely on the provincial government. When the funds are not released, the local bodies will find it difficult to sponsor the much needed development projects that the city of Karachi needs so badly. This is why through this bill they are going to have all local bodies be overlooked by a PPP man (a provinical government minister) and additionally most taxes and revenue generation will be recieved by the Sindh government, leaving little autonomy for local bodies. Yet another conspiracy and reflection of feudal mindset.
My question to Karachi-based PTI fans: do your leaders care about the city's problems to at least raise their voice against this bill or do they just need you to blindly vote for them so they could enjoy the Islamabad air?
MQM should have voted against this bill instead of just walking out.
@Aysha M: God bless you Dear sister for defending the interests of Karachi. In these pages I have seen people spew venom against the Muhajirs wait till confirmed racists like Raja Islam and Gujranwala 769 come to enlighten us with their disgusting display of racism. Also write that the provincial bureaucracy is 90% sindhi-speaking who humiliate the people of Karachi in Government offices and milk them for bribes. @ ashar: So apart from being an extremist sympathizer you are also a MQM hater which makes sense because these things often go together. @ ET: Allow this comment under freedom of speech.
MQM members walk out of the assembly in protest against the bill, but will still take part in local govt election
How inconsistent? If they don't like the bill (which is quite obvious) they should also refrain from any elections held under its ambit.
Interesting to know where PTI stands on this bill?
Waderas of corruption party are treating Karachi as their colony which they have been plunering for many years now and MQM with its philosophy of "manzil nahin rehnuma chahiye" been giving more and more concessions to these waderas to loot Karachi at will
Waderas will never let Karachi a proper city government just like in civilized countries because this will lose them the control of Karachi's development funds that they have been looting for past five years
@Ayesha how they got representation every1 knows it.they speak for themselves not the people.
thy will not get the LB of their own wish.every party has agreed on it.Pti has representation in khi and they agree with the new lb including PP and N league also have seats from khi.. mqm had to make the drama..
Will media or politicians or judiciary, speak up against the blatant violation of the electoral representation of urban Sindh. How can those elected from constituencies outside urban Sindh be given the right to legislate for the whole of Sindh with complete disregard to the aspirations of the people of urban sindh Why is urban Sindh treated as a colony and its elected representatives undermined?
@Farhan: my question too
@ashar: Exactly how does this analogy apply?
All megacities have mayors with transport, policing and utilities under them. when it is about delimitations, Karachi is addressed separately from the rest of the country, but dynamics of Karachi are not considered when it comes to city government.
Karachi deserves to have the electoral mandate translated into administrative, political and financial mandate. Any party sincere with the people of Karachi would support a powerful city government
Crying over the milk they have spilt themselves.