ISLAMABAD: The restoration of commissionerate system in Sindh was challenged in Supreme Court on Wednesday.

In his petition, Moulvi Iqbal Haider, the chairman of Awami Himayat Tehrik Pakistan, contended that the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, 1979, Police Act, 1861, and the Land Revenue Act, 1967, had been restored in a gross violation of Articles 5, 9, 14, 15, 16, 19, 25, 32, 140-A, 175(3) 261, 264 and 270AA of the Constitution.

The petitioner argued that the acting governor was not empowered under the Constitution to take such decisions and his role was limited torunning day-to-day affairs during the transition period.

He requested the court to direct the federation to appoint a permanent governor to prevent failure of constitutional machinery in Sindh and suspend all the three ordinances promulgated by acting Governor Nisar Ahmed Khuhro till the final disposal of the petition.

The petitioner said the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, 2001, and Police Order, 2002, were protected under the 17th and 18th Constitution Amendment Acts.

He said the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, 2001, had become more effective after Article 140-A was incorporated into the Constitution whereby each province shall by law establish a local government system and devolve political, administrative and financial responsibility and authority to the elected representatives of the local government. He said the law also provided for election of the local bodies under the supervision of the Election Commission.