HYDERABAD Senior Sindh Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has said that Sindh government is working on improvement in existing Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO) 1979 which is why it has also officially contacted stakeholders for their views on the matter.

He said that finer points of SLGO 2001 could also be incorporated.

He was speaking to journalists at local circuit house on Sunday. PPP leaders Zahid Bhurgari, Fayyaz Shah, Aftab Khanzada and Abdul Jabbar Khan were also present.

He said that the 2001 LG law was defective while the 1979 version is old because present day needs are different.

Khuhro said that if the constitution could be amended the LG law could also have amendments made. He added that the 1979 law does not have representation for women.

He said that the apex court has fixed deadline of Sept 15 for holding of LG polls which is why the government has sought proposals from parties and other stakeholders.

The government does not want to reject their proposals rather it could get involved in interaction after considering them for working out something better.

He said that not only MQM but other parties might have supported PML-N’s presidential candidate so why should the MQM be singled out adding that it is a party that takes decisions on its own.

“Let them vote for their candidate,” he said.

Khuhro said that as far as any invitation for MQM to join the coalition is concerned, it could be seen after the presidential polls.

“We are not engaged in talks with them [MQM] since it is presidential election time. We can see to it after the elections,” he said.

He said that Aug 6 was not intentionally fixed as date for polls but it was otherwise a requirement for such elections to be held one month prior to completion of term of the president.

He criticised the apex court’s directive for holding elections on July 30, saying the other side was not issued notice which is usually done.

"The other side was not heard and government’s plea was accepted ex-parte," he added.

He said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announces the date for elections but in this case it was the apex court which did it.

Khuhro argued when PPP decided to boycott presidential polls, Nawaz Sharif termed it undemocratic. But he said, Sharif conveniently ignores the fact that he is not approaching the court to initiate proceedings under Article 6 against the man who had toppled a democratic government.

Likewise, he said, Imran Khan wants thumbs verification in four constituency to expose transparency in May 11 polls on the one hand and on the other he subscribes to change in presidential polls schedule.

PTI candidate Wajihuddin Ahmed has stated that members could vote for any presidential candidate without being hit by Articles 62 and 63.

He said that Mamnoon Hussain doesn’t want to be a Ghulam Ishaq Khan or Asif Zardari like president.

“He [Mamnoon] should have stated that he doesn’t want to become Zia or Musharraf but he expressed his dislike for a democratically elected president Asif Ali Zardari who surrendered his powers to parliament,” he said and added that President Asif Zardari had ensured that parliament should complete its five year term while ensuring a safe transfer of power.

About non payment of salaries to Sindhi language teachers (SLT), he said that an inquiry is being conducted by education department to see how many unsanctioned appointments of technical posts like SLT, oriental and Arabic teacher are made in the education department.

He said that officers are responsible for these appointments who didn’t keep the in line with SNE (Schedule of New Establishment).