The much-awaited Sindh Local Government Ordinance 2012 could not be issued till late Tuesday night as the coalition partners failed to finalise the amended draft. The legislators of both coalition partners - Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) held a number of meetings till late night to reach an understanding on the draft.
At midnight a meeting between PPP and MQM delegations was in progress at Sindh Chief Minister House to finalise the draft. A delegation of MQM on Monday called on President Zardari at Bilawal House. This meeting led to deliberations by the leaders of the two parties to finalise the draft of local government system.
It was being said that the draft has been finalised and Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah will announce the promulgation of the new ordinance at a news conference. However, differences cropped up on some points at the fag end and both the parties failed to finalise the draft.
The Local Government Ordinance re-promulgated by Sindh Governor has expired at midnight on September 04 leaving no administrative system in place. The ordinance could not be tabled in Sindh Assembly for legislative cover. Meanwhile, Awami National Party (ANP) announced that it would oppose the proposed local government system in Sindh.