KARACHI: The opposition parties in the Sindh Assembly on Wednesday filed the requisition for a session immediately to discuss the new local government law and reframe it in accordance with the Constitution and the recent directives of the Supreme Court in the light of its landmark judgement.

The requisition, which was signed by 49 legislators of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and the Grand Democratic Alliance, also sought discussion on the floor of the house on issues of the Provincial Finance Commission, law and order, shortage of fertiliser and water, sky-rocketing prices, land-grabbing and illegal construction and worsening Covid-19 situation in Sindh.

Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh along with parliamentary leaders and MPAs of PTI and MQM-P submitted the request to the secretary of the Sindh Assembly.

Haleem says PPP making deal with a party which doesn’t represent masses

The agenda put forward by the joint opposition also included manhandling of protesters by police in Tando Allahyar and district administration and use of violence against protesters outside CM House.

Talking to reporters after filing the requisition, Mr Sheikh said that after the SC order it had become inevitable to reframe the local government law in Sindh in consultation and consensus of all parliamentary parties of the province.

“The Sindh Local Government Act 2013 and subsequent amendments are in contravention to the Constitution and all the opposition parties are protesting against the law that deprived the local governments of their rights and authorities guaranteed by Article 140-A of the Constitution,” he said.

He said that the PPP was negotiating a deal on the LG law with a political party that did not represent the masses while the opposition alliance having the public mandate was not being consulted.

MQM presser

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Bahadurabad, senior MQM-P leader Khawaja Izhar ul Hassan described the fresh SC orders as a first step towards the end of ‘feudal rule’ in the province.

“We believe that the Supreme Court orders on our [MQM-P] petition will pave the way for people of other provinces as well as for an empowered and effective local government system,” he added.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2022