We are informed the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) have failed once again to agree on the shape of the new local government system in Sindh. Anyone with an iota of political sense could have predicted the failure five years ago when, in the first session of the Sindh Assembly, Zulfiqar Mirza said Musharraf's LG system should be abolished and replaced by the old municipal system of civil administration. This was duely effected on December 31, 2009.
Since then the two political parties have been playing ring-around-the-mulberry bush. The PPP is not at all interested in the LG system since it makes political mileage for rival parties. In Karachi especially, City District Government Karachi (CDGK) had its first nazim Jamat-i-Islami's Naimatullah Khan; the second was MQM's Mustafa Kamal.
Both nazims gave the city its most glorious period of civic administration. The city which was previously deteriorating into a third rate metropolis became in their tenure a truly modern city.
The PPP thinks Sindh is its jagir. It also knows that its continuing poor track record in local administration and development of the province will win it no votes should a local government polls be held, as directed by the Supreme Court last April. Karachi is the shining example that will, in fact has inspired people in other cities and towns of Sindh. Even in Nawabsha (its new name is unaccepted by locals) I heared from a young Muslim League politician that in an LG poll they would go for MQM, JI or ML candidate.
The bottom line is that in major cities and town of Sindh PPP would not win if an LG poll was held. Hence, since the SC directive it has been pretending to concede to the demands of the MQM on the shape of a new LG system in Sindh. Every single meeting between PPP and MQM on the issue has ended in failure. Surprisingly it seems as if the MQM is conniving with the PPP to procrastinate. The meetings have been an eyewash to appease their respective supporters. According to a colleague, who is an expert on Sindh politics, hundreds of hours have been wasted at these farcical meetings.
What is the MQM's game? One can only speculate that the MQM has its eye on the impending general election tentatively scheduled for March next year. It wants to be a coalition partner with whatever party wins in the province, and that party undoubtedly will be PPP. If this was not their intention the MQM would have bared its teeth on the LG polls issue several months ago instead of tips toeing round the mulberry bush. Even Altaf Bhai is silent. After the last meeting a MQM participant at the meeting said there would be no further discussion.
President Zardari can, if he wants, twist the arm of the PPP and MQM to reach an accord. But he too is not his usual authoritarian self. Last Monday he merely 'expressed the hope' that the two political parties would 'soon' reach an accord and hold the LB polls. This is not trouble shooting.
Even if the President was determined to get results the question would still be: how soon can a new LG system be devised? The question following on the previous one would be: how soon can the LG polls be held? The MQM would like both issues to be settled before the general elections. The PPP would delay till after the general elections. If the LG polls were held before the general elections its predictable poor showing would badly affect its prospects at the general elections.
Another peculiar feature is the easy-going approach of the Supreme Court. It does not seem to mind that there is no interest in its April directive to all provinces to hold the LG elections. Could one describe this attitude a case of contempt of court?
The fate of Local Government depends on the results of the next general elections. I am only concerned with what will be its future in Sindh. All political pundits believe that, barring some unprecedented happening the results will be similar to the showing at the last general elections five years ago; give or take a few seats. With the PPP once again in the driving seat in Sindh, it would be doubtful if local government will take root. They have thought it unimportant these past three years since Musharraf sponsored LG ended its tenure in 2009.
The PPP is the most well established political party but the least interested in development of democratic instruments such as local government which give power to the masses. This grass root system is vital for the development of democratic thought in all fields of human activity. Hence, in truly democratic countries it is considered a pillar of democracy. The PPP's idea is limited to elections. Once in power there is little it does that can be called democratic. Many have accused the present government of being a civilian dictatorship.
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