KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Monday approved the Local Government Bill 2013 while the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) members walked out of the assembly in protest against the bill.
The new bill provides for holding local government elections in the province on party basis.
Under the new local government bill‚ there will be a Metropolitan Corporation in Karachi and Municipal Corporations in three districts of Sindh.
In Karachi‚ besides Metropolitan Corporation‚ there will also be five Municipal Corporations in five districts of the city. Mayer will head the Metropolitan Corporation‚ while the District Councils will be headed by Chairman.
Earlier, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and Senior Provincial Minister Nisar Ahmed Khoro presented the bill in the provincial assembly for approval amid protests by the MQM lawmakers.
The MQM lawmakers said it was unfair to discuss a bill that had not been read by all members present. Chants of “shame” could be heard as MQM protested vocally.
“A draft was shared with us online, however that was a draft. We did not have enough time to read this huge document. How can we discuss something unless all members of the assembly have read the bill?” asked MQM lawmaker Faisal Subzwari.
“Only 10% of the assembly has received copies of the bill,” he added.
The Sindh Local Government Bill 2013 was prepared by the PPP-led government in Sindh in compliance with the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s orders to hold the LG election by September 15.
Former major coalition partner, MQM was adamant that the Sindh Peoples Local Government Law 2012, which was passed by both PPP and MQM, be implemented. The government, on the other hand, has chosen to go ahead with a new law built on the framework of the 1979 system.
Nisar Khoro defended the bill by saying “Municipalities are still currently running. So why is there a problem if everyone agrees to pass a bill?”
“If an overwhelming majority accepts a bill, they are representing Sindh. If everyone says local government can benefit our people, why shouldn’t we go ahead with it?” Khoro added.
A resolution to change the required minimum age to 21 years for eligibility to run local body elections was also suggested during the session.
