KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly Thursday passed the Sindh Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2013 (SPLGA) into law despite demand of opposition parties to defer it, DawnNews reported.

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) backed local government law was challenged by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in the Supreme Court on Monday pleading it contradicts with Article 104-A of the Constitution.

The issue of local government system in the province has widened rift between the two parties which happen to be former coalition partners in Sindh and at the center.

Provincial Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Sikandar Mandhro tabled the bill and requested for its immediate consideration from the house with Acting Speaker Shehla Raza in the chair.

The opposition parties, including Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), asked to defer the bill so that the MPAs can study it and float their input.

However, the treasury side insisted to put the bill for consideration at once and subsequently it was passed.

Opposition Leader in Sindh Assembly Faisal Sabzwari of MQM criticised the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for adopting “wrong procedure” on local government and delimitation issues.

Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly also passed the bill of new local government system with majority vote. The Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) government, however, was being criticised by the opposition for introducing what they called a “half correct” bill.