KARACHI, Feb 23: Acting Sindh governor Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said on Saturday that he had not accepted resignations of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement ministers, without explaining reasons for the delay, and said he would look into the matter next week.

He defended the withdrawal of the Sindh People’s Local Government Act, 2012 following realisation in the leading ranks of the party that the act had sparked anger of the people of the province. The decision took almost half a year after its passage by the Sindh Assembly amid uproar by the nationalist parties and even by partners in the ruling coalition, including the Awami National Party, which parted ways with the Pakistan People’s Party in Sindh in protest over the issue.

“The resignations of the MQM ministers have been received but not yet accepted,” Mr Khuhro told reporters after attending the inaugural session of the Livestock, Dairy, Fisheries, Poultry, Agriculture and Culture Exhibition at the Karachi Expo Centre.

“Today and tomorrow are weekly holidays. So I will look into it on Monday. That’s the status of their resignations which I can share with you.”

He said the provincial assembly enjoyed every constitutional right to propose laws, amendments and even withdraw any regulation it believed did not suit the people of the province.

“So no one should have any objection to constitutional decisions. We made it and later withdrew it. People raising objection to it have no legal arguments, but indulge in lengthy debates for point scoring,” he said. “The upcoming polls will better tell who is going to benefit from the restoration of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, 1979. One should not lose patience. Just wait and see!”

Earlier addressing the inaugural session of the exhibition, the Sindh Assembly speaker said the province had all necessary potentials to attract investment in the agriculture-based area.

“We should try to find out international markets for these farm-based products to earn foreign exchange. We are unable to access these markets only due to our low quality products. It’s time to adopt technology-based modernisation,” he added.