November 21, 2008	Friday	Ziqa'ad 22, 1429

KARACHI, Nov 20: The local government system has failed to deliver and the provinces of Punjab, the NWFP and Balochistan have rejected it outright while Sindh wants necessary changes in it to make it workable. However, it will be decided in a couple of days by the federal government, which has already received reports in this regard from all the four provincial governments.

This was stated by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah at a press conference at the chief minister’s house on Wednesday night, when former provincial minister Rana Humair Singh and Seth Wishandas, both from Tharparkar District, announced that they had joined the Pakistan People’s Party.

Referring to the drought situation in Tharparkar and migration of people to other areas as pointed out by Mr Singh, the chief minister said the government had not received any report about it from the district coordination officer there except for some press reports. However, he said, now the government would send a relief commissioner to carry out a survey before announcing relief measures.

He also promised that he would consider allotting 0.25 million acres of ‘rival’s property’ to landless peasants, who had been cultivating it before partition.

Home Minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza, who was also present along with Minister Makhdoom Jamil-uz-Zaman, also welcomed them and said that the party would welcome anyone who wanted to go along with the mission of the late Bhuttos.

Earlier Rana Humair Singh recalled the background of the decision saying that he had political differences wit Dr Arbab Rahim as he had failed to honour his commitments made to him and his family.

He said retired general Pervez Musharraf had promised to allot the enemy property land to peasants but the notification issued in this regard said it was only for 30 years lease. As now the Sindh government was allotting land to landless peasants on an ownership basis in other districts, he would request the chief minister to include Tharparker District for the purpose as there were 0.25 million acres of enemy property being cultivated by landless people for decades.

In reply to a question, Mr Singh said that he had earlier supported the Arbab group, but now he had joined the PPP with his family, friends and community.