LG law hits a roadblock as opposition cries foul

A proposed overhaul of Sindh's local government law ran into fierce opposition on Saturday, with MQM-P, PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami rejecting key government proposals and accusing the provincial administration of seeking to curb elected mayors' powers and pave the way for unelected administrators. A parliamentary committee constituted to examine amendments to the Sindh Local Government Act met at the Sindh Assembly, with government and opposition lawmakers taking part. The meeting reviewed the proposed new local government legislation, while representatives of participating parties also submitted their own amendments. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar said the government had proposed a mechanism for the period following the completion of local representatives' terms. Under the proposal, he said, the Election Commission of Pakistan would be formally approached 120 days before local government elections, allowing sufficient time for delimitation and other electoral preparations. Lanjar said delimitation was essential before elections and pointed out that different schedules had been issued during previous polls. Once an election schedule was announced, he added, the Election Commission would make the necessary arrangements, while an administrator would handle day-to-day affairs in the interim. He said the government wanted to strengthen the Election Commission, adding that political parties represented in the committee had also put forward their proposed amendments. The government's position, however, drew a sharp response from opposition members. MQM-P lawmaker Taha Ahmed rejected the committee proceedings outright, alleging that the government was treating the Sindh Assembly as a "personal domain" and deliberately resisting the transfer of powers to elected local representatives. He demanded that mayors be given full powers under Article 140-A of the Constitution and called for implementation of the PPP's own 2008 manifesto commitment on devolution of local government powers. Ahmed questioned the proposed removal of the mayor's authority over the master plan, solid waste management and the Water Board, alleging that legislation was being tailored to strengthen a "fake mayor". He warned that MQM-P would launch protests across the country if what he described as controversial legislation was not stopped.