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KARACHI: Two amendments to the Sindh Local Government Act were passed by the Sindh Assembly on Wednesday despite protests and heavy sloganeering by opposition leaders.
An amendment to the act calls for monitoring of local government representatives by the Sindh government, inviting the wrath of opposition leaders Khawaja Izharul Hasan of the MQM and Sheheryar Mehr of the PML-F who argued the move showed the government did not want to hold local government elections.
Sindh Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro however contended that monitoring of local government representatives was necessary to ensure they did not engage in illegal activities.
Sindh Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Nisar Ahmed Khuhro tabled the amendments as members of the opposition chanted slogans of "shame", protesting before the assembly speaker and tearing copies of the bill.
The opposition accused the Sindh government of using the pull of the majority in the assembly to get the bill passed.
A second amendment to the act passed into law on Wednesday was in accordance with an earlier Supreme Court verdict ordering election of local government representatives ─ including mayor, deputy mayor, chairman and vice chairman ─ through secret ballot instead of a show of hands within 60 days.
The amendment was passed with consensus in the assembly.
Local government positions are hotly contested in Pakistan's main financial hub. Since it swept the elections with 135 seats for six Karachi districts, the MQM appears poised to clinch the office of Karachi mayor and deputy mayor with Waseem Akhtar as the prime mayoral candidate.
In the past, the MQM has alleged that local government does not hold meaningful powers, saying the mayor of Karachi will have no power as the PPP-led provincial government has reserved a number of powers for itself.
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Comments (45) Closed
Apr 27, 2016 04:23pm
The Sindhi waderas want to control the city of most educated people. Since the people from Interior Sindh have no mandate and interest in Urban Sindh they still want to keep their control over urban people. This is what MQM has been fighting for years and now the time has come to fight for the rights of people of Karachi.
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Apr 27, 2016 04:23pm
Absolutely biased approach of the Sindh assembly toward people of Karachi. I think Supreme Court must take sue motto for such bill approved in the assembly.
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Apr 27, 2016 04:29pm
Enough is enough. People of Karachi cannot be kept as slaves anymore. Karachi generates revenue for Pakistan and begs money from the incompetent and corrupt people from villages to run their own city.
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Apr 27, 2016 04:34pm
PPP cannot hide its corruption behind the rangers operation and approve non-sense bill based on fake majority against people of Karachi. When they failed to stop MQM to get mandate from people of Karachi they have started creating such hurdles to control the city.
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Apr 27, 2016 04:36pm
Someone is trying to test the level of endurance of people of Karachi.
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Apr 27, 2016 04:38pm
Every such biased step that the provincial assembly takes places increases the gulf between the urban and rural population of this province. On the other hand, if the provincial assembly had really considered Sindh's citiesto belong to the province, even if politically mandated to another party, it would not be continuously taking steps to suffocate the cities. Myopia, it appears, is the only way, in which the present assembly perceives the province.
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Apr 27, 2016 04:45pm
Sindh local is like a dead horse which is in the hope to surpass a race.
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Apr 27, 2016 04:46pm
These kinds of moves by PPP keep MQM alive and they both have agreement on keeping each other happy.
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Apr 27, 2016 04:47pm
@Nasir well said.
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Apr 27, 2016 04:52pm
How long people of Karachi could be deprived of their rights? Surely one day all they will stand against the most corrupt and notorious politicians to grab their due rights.
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Apr 27, 2016 04:58pm
Muhajirs must be ready to react on such maneuvers that prevent them from their due rights.
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Apr 27, 2016 05:12pm
Very shameful bill. PPP openly usurps right of people of Karachi.
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Apr 27, 2016 05:21pm
MQM should protest all over the city and persuade the Govt to change their
trend of thinking towards City of Karachi .
Syed Naseem Ahmed
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Apr 27, 2016 05:26pm
The rangers arrest and allege MQM workers while PPP in assembly makes ridiculous laws on majority basis. As a result no development in the city and water, sewerage, streets, electricity problems show we live in a village like people of interior live. This is well planned strategy adopted at the highest level due to continuous support to MQM.
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Apr 27, 2016 05:28pm
Extremely Biased Move.. These issues are the reason why MQM gets majority votes in Urban Sindh.
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Apr 27, 2016 05:30pm
Most Civilised Assembly of Pakistan..........
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Apr 27, 2016 05:51pm
Again Karachiites are subject to depreviation,only due to their own bad luck and mistake by choosing the linguistic party who in fact is a crony of Sindh Govt,and this linguistic party has been taking money in past to align with PPP and taking U turns. The scenes in Sindh Assembly are nothing but show down,just yesterday some leaders of linguistic party met Sindh CM and assured him full support. It is high time for Karachiites to support Kamal Mustafa party and struggle for independent,autonomous government, for Karachi. In many countries mega cities have their own autonomous city governments,and this could be the best solution for Karachi.
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Apr 27, 2016 05:56pm
@Nasir .Sorry I disagree with you,the linguistic party you favoring has been taking U turns and siding with Waderas,and is responsible for depriving rights of Karachiites,the facts speaks ,just see the papers.
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Apr 27, 2016 06:07pm
These are disadvantages of voting for region specific party. Only a party at national can solve their issues. I hope Pak Sarzameen party becomes a big party at national level and solve the issues of karachi for people of karachi. Karachi being biggest revenue generating city deserves lot better.
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Apr 27, 2016 06:18pm
There is a God....and He watches all. Injustice cannot thrive for long. To Him we all return and answer for our mis/deeds.
The oppressed are also judged by their reaction....as are oppressors for their misuse of authority. Pity the oppressors though. Really terrible to be among them.
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Apr 27, 2016 06:45pm
people of punjab always wonders why Karachi keep voting MqM over and over .Hope now you understand .
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Apr 27, 2016 06:54pm
Well one can imagine that these ruling elite of interior Sindh are so disappointed to give the slightest of control to the local bodies since it in some way or the other undermines their right to loot and plunder the resources of this city.
Supreme Court of Pakistan should take suo moto of this situation and should prevent these looters to usurp the rights of Urban Sindh.
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Apr 27, 2016 06:58pm
Another attempt to keep the local bodies system pending. PPP knows that MQM will go to courts against such a biased decision and the matter will remain suspended in courts thus giving time to the provincial government in making as much money as possible by looting funds of Karachi.
I believe Supreme Court of Pakistan should take a suo moto action against this move and put the last nail on the coffin of PPP's delaying tactics. Tomorrow they will come with another move to deny the people of Karachi the right to manage their city with the help of their elected representatives.
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Apr 27, 2016 07:17pm
The Sindhi waderas will never let the people of Karachi the right to solve their own problems.They want to keep us slaves .
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Apr 27, 2016 07:32pm
OMG how come PPP could do so ?Is this democracy ? If so then the hell with democracy .now make karachi a separate province .
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Apr 27, 2016 07:43pm
@SYED NASEEM AHMED
"MQM should protest all over the city and persuade the Govt to change their trend of thinking towards City of Karachi"
This will not work brother .
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Apr 27, 2016 07:49pm
we wait and see the reaction of jamat e islami /Pti/Mustufa Kamal .
if they care for karachi and its people they will come forward ,else they are not welcome .
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Apr 27, 2016 08:01pm
Only one solution to this is to make Karachi a separate province. Only one Mansoobs..Karachi Sooba. Period.
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Apr 27, 2016 08:01pm
@M.A.Lalani They will not. They want people of Karachi to get punishment since they always vote for MQM.
However, by not raising their voice against this kind of injustice, they give every possible boost to MQM to survive in this city.
Thank you so called national parties.
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Apr 27, 2016 08:03pm
Alas these rural Waderas consider Karachi and their resident as part of Karachi.
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Apr 27, 2016 08:04pm
@Sadia Haris Completely agree. People of Karachi must start movement to make Karachi a separate province.
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Apr 27, 2016 08:07pm
@Farooq siraj
The Layari gang created by Zukfi Mirza and Asif Zardari was essential part of the conspiracy against Karachiites. Although the Zardari/Mirza policy backfired PPP yet it created a big problem for not only Karachiites but for the rest of the country. Zardari/Mirza mindset is the basis for political and economic problems of Karachi under the watchful eyes of Fed bureaucracy which is equally responsible for Karachi's mess.
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Apr 27, 2016 08:08pm
@Mahboob Ali
Fed bureaucracy more than PPP.
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Apr 27, 2016 08:14pm
Its both the center and ppp colluding against the mandate of Karachi.
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Apr 27, 2016 08:23pm
The plight of Karachi is very pathetic. The problems have been piled up and filth is everywhere on streets. It appears the both sindh and federal governments have pulled up any kind support to the city in retaliation of support to MQM. So when this will end as people of Karachi are not going to give up support to MQM.
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Apr 27, 2016 08:34pm
I think both federal and provincial governments have agreed not to give power and financial autonomy to elected representatives of Karachi and loot the money with both hands. One party is sending money to Panama and other to Dubai. What a shame to poor Pakistanis that what unscrupulous rulers we have. We must check ourselves first.
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Apr 27, 2016 09:25pm
Khi sooba is only solution .Where is Mr.Kamal .
Mr.Kamal please support our demand if you really care for karachi .
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Apr 27, 2016 10:20pm
People of Karachi should organize largest dharna outside CM House against PPP. Enough is enough.
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Apr 27, 2016 10:24pm
Soon there will be governor rule in Sindh.
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Apr 27, 2016 11:59pm
Monitor local body temperature also. Summer is in full swing.
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Apr 28, 2016 12:21am
The federal government should pass a bill allowing to monitor provincial governments to make sure that provincial ministers do not engage in illegal activities. I am sure the Sindh government will welcome such a move.
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Apr 28, 2016 01:31am
Peace in.Karachi shall certainly prevail if city councillors may be given.some power at the local level.
Military or Rangers operation are provisional are provisional measures insufficient for long lasting peace.
Sindh Govt is pursuing racial and discriminatory policies towards local govt.bodies of Sindh Urban areas.
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Apr 28, 2016 06:44am
The provincial governments in provinces are misusing the delegation of powers by Federal government and are completely ignoring the basic concept of devolution of powers further .They want to run LB through their political appointees and beaurocracy . The major metropolitans of Urban Sindh would be out of the hands of PPP if Sindh government let things happen fairly .
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Apr 28, 2016 06:47am
@Khi96 MQM won elections and need those LB administration .It is their right !
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Apr 28, 2016 09:45am
@Nasir MQM was sitting in lap of these same "Sindhi Waderas" for the last 8 years and enjoying the bounties of being the part of Government. MQM has lost its credibility and these slogans of "fighting for the right of Karachi" are just a sham. People of karachi are not stupid
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