HYDERABAD, July 10: Acting Governor of Sindh Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has said talks are under way (with allies) on a new local bodies system and hoped that a consensus would soon be evolved on a new local government law.

He said local bodies and general elections could not be held under two separate electoral rolls, adding that LB elections were possible after issuance of verified voter lists.

He was talking to reporters at the residence of Aijaz Molai in Qasimabad on Tuesday where he had come to offer condolences on the death of his brother Irshad Gulabani, a senior journalist.

Mr Khuhro said local bodies’ laws of 1979 and 2011 had defects or lacunas. “We want to come up with a flawless system acceptable to all stakeholders,” he said.

He said the chief election commissioner was being appointed on permanent basis and expressed his optimism that new electoral list to be issued very soon.Referring to the contempt of court (amendment) bill passed in the National Assembly, he said parliament had produced the constitution and it was empowered to amend any law. He said that expressing an opinion did not mean contempt of court.

He said they had the passed bill in the assembly instead of imposing an ordinance as was done in previous regimes. The previous governments had passed many ordinances but the present government brought them to parliament for enactment.

About Sindh University situation, he said Vice Chancellor Dr Nazir Mughal had not been removed from the service so he attended office after availing leave granted to him.

He said demands of the protesting teachers had been accepted by the authorities and they were assured that no one would be removed from service. Now after the assurance, protest against the VC was unjustified, he said.

The protest was affecting studies of students and wasting their time only because the ego of protesters, he said.

Mr Khuhro paid tribute to Irshad Gulabani and said he was the man of principle. He recalled that Irshad Gulabani had taken part in the movement for restoration of democracy during Zia regime.