PPP, MQM sort out local governments transfer of land issue

[Naveed Yaseen]

* LGs to get prior approval from Sindh LG minister for land cases

By Razzak Abro

KARACHI: The core committee comprising Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Friday approved amendments in the Sindh chief minister’s order of imposing ban on lease and transfer of the government land by the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) and district governments. The committee has decided to authorise Sindh Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani for giving approval of these cases.

The committee members took this decision at a meeting held at the Sindh Chief Minster’s House on Friday. Durrani, Pir Mazharul Haq, Ayaz Soomro, Syed Murad Ali Shah and Rashid Rabbani attended the meeting from PPP’s side, while Sindh ministers, Syed Sardar Ahmed, Dr Sagheer Ahmed and Wasim Aftab represented the ruling MQM. Pakistan Muslim League-Functional’s Imtiaz Shaikh, who has been recently inducted in the committee, was not present at the meeting.

According to the official sources, the committee members decided that an amendment would be made in the notification issued by the Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah around two months earlier, in which he had restrained the district governments, including the CDGK from executing powers of issuing lease and transfer orders of the government land in their respective limits.

Sources said that the notification would be issued with an amendment under which the district governments and CDGK would get prior permission from the local government minister before issuing lease and transfer orders of the land. An amended notification would likely be issued today (Saturday). After this amendment the local government minister would be empowered to give approvals of lease and transfer of land instead of the Sindh chief minister.

The issue had developed a dispute between both the major coalition partners of the province. City Nazim Mustafa Kamal had also filed a petition in the Sindh High Court against the chief minister’s order. However, later it was withdrawn under some assurances given by the PPP leadership to the MQM leaders.

The committee also discussed matters pertaining to ban on fresh appointments in different departments. Regarding ban in local government department it was decided that town nazims belonging to the MQM would meet the local government minister on Monday to discuss the issue. Regarding the ban in police department the committee decided that Provincial Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza would brief the committee members on the issue in the next meeting.

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