Sindh: ‘Govt to take control of LG bodies’

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Razzak Abro
KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Local Government Agha Siraj Durrani said on Tuesday that, initially, the Sindh government will take control of the local government bodies after the completion of the present local government system’s tenure in August, and then President Asif Ali Zardari will decide about the future of the LG system.

“The president will decide whether or not the local government system continues, however, the Sindh government wishes to make improvements in the system,” Durrani said while speaking at a forum of parliamentarians and citizens held at a local hotel on Tuesday.

He said that the period of the local bodies system would end in August this year and after its completion, administrators would be appointed before heading for fresh elections. He said that the present local government system was a product of a dictator and corruption in local bodies had destroyed the whole system.

Regarding reports that the government has stopped funding various local governments in the province, he refuted the claim that funds of the City District Government Karachi have been stopped, however, admitted that releases have been stopped to some of the nazims who have been found involved in corruption.

According to him, a lot of development work has been carried out in Karachi, however, he went on to say that some of the areas have been neglected.

Consensus between MQM and PPP on restoration of commissioner system: Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Muhammad Ayaz Soomro claimed that the two major coalition partners in the provincial government, the PPP and the MQM, have developed 90 percent consensus over restoration of the old commissioner system in Sindh.

Responding to a question during a press conference held at his office after a meeting with a delegation of Industrial Relations Advisory Association, Soomro said that the government could bring a bill in this regard in the coming session of the Sindh Assembly. He said that the tenure of the present LG system will come to an end in August, while the government would appoint administrators before August.

Earlier, during the press conference, he said that the government has given approval for the appointment of around 100 assistant and deputy public prosecutors and 81 deputy district attorneys. Soomro also said that after the abolishment of the NRO, the government is setting up a labour appellate tribunal to be headed by the Sindh High Court, which would hear appeals against labour courts. Responding to a question, he said that a summary has already been sent to Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad for the merger of the criminal prosecution department into the law department.

President to arrive in city: President Asif Ali Zardari will be arriving in the city to meet party leaders, Sindh cabinet members and possibly its coalition partners, especially the MQM, official sources said on Tuesday.

According to the sources, the president is likely to meet the chief minister and some of his cabinet members to discuss the current political situation, preparations for the upcoming budget and the resentment in the province over the influx of IDPs.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg12_1