PPP-led Sindh government has made a new draft of local government system to promulgate in the whole province, which would be sent very soon to all provincial coalition partners for consultation. Sources in Local Government Department told this to Business Recorder on Saturday.
The Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Sindh government's major leading party, had derailed Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO) 2001, and promulgated Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO) 1979, which was not accepted by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) the second major-coalition partner in provincial government.
Later, the Sindh government agreed with MQM for re-promulgation of SLGO 2001, and Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad had restored SLGO 2001, with signing the ordinance. This political move was outrightly rejected by the nationalist parties and masses of Sindh, and hard-reaction in this regard had compelled the PPP not to table the SLGO 2001, in Sindh assembly.
Resulting, the PPP started working on drafting new local government system for Sindh. That is why Sindh assembly session has not been called despite passage of 22 days to re-impose SLGO 2001, sources said. This new draft has been prepared by experts of Sindh Law Department and some PPP ministers including Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Law Minister Ayaz Soomor and others. The draft has been sent to Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah for further assent, sources said.
Soon after the approval by the CM, draft of new local government system would be forwarded to partner political parties for further study and comments, sources said. Sources hinted that experts have proposed in the new draft to establish Municipal Corporations in all major cities of province including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas and Larkana.
District Governments (DGs) would be imposed in rest of districts of province, sources added. Besides, the chapter of funds of all districts, talukas and union councils would be the part of newly drafted local government system, sources said. Posts of Taulka officer (Regulation) would be abolished in new system while some powers of Taulka Municipal officers (TMOs) would also be curtailed, sources said.
Sources claimed that new draft would be sent to all allies including MQM, PML-F, PML-Q, NPP and ANP very soon and this new system would be tabled in provincial assembly with consultation of all political stakeholders. If all allies would agree on new draft, then, City District Government Karachi (CDGK) would be abolished, sources said.