Sindh: Commissioner system may be revived today

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Imtiaz Ali
The Sindh Assembly is likely to approve amendments in the concerned law on Monday (today) to revive the commissioner system in the province purportedly for better administration. The posts of commissioners and additional commissioners were abolished following the promulgation of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance-2001 (SLGO-2001).

Political observers consider it a significant change in the local bodies system. Since the SLGO is protected under 17th Amendment, the Sindh government presumably plans to revive the post of commissioners by effecting amendments to the Sindh Land Revenue (SLR) (Amendment) Bill-2009. According to the order for the day for Monday’s session, the SLR bill amendments, which were introduced last week by Law Minister Ayaz Soomro, will be taken up for consideration today.

These proposed amendments in the Sindh Land Revenue Act-1967, if approved by the assembly, will also empower the provincial government to create new districts and divisions. Sections 5, 8 and 9 of the 1967 Act will be amended, according to the copy of the Sindh Bill-6 of 2009 available to The News.

According to the proposed amendment about districts and divisions, the government may, by notification, create divisions and districts in the province. A division shall consist of two or more districts as may be specified by the government. It may declare as many districts in the province, with limits and areas as it deems appropriate. It may also vary the number and limits of a division in the province.

It may be mentioned here that the outgoing Sindh government had created certain new districts in the province by dividing old districts including Larkana, the home district of former Premier Benazir Bhutto. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had reservations over these new districts and they maintained that the creation of new districts was politically motivated.

According to the proposed amendment in Section 8 of the Act, a commissioner shall be appointed for each division by the government, which may confer functions and powers upon him as it deems appropriate.

The government shall appoint additional commissioners (amendment in Section 9) of a division, who will, subject to the general supervision and control of the commissioner, exercise powers and discharge duties conferred upon the commissioner.

The government said it was expedient to revive the commissioner system “for the general supervision and control of the executive functions within the provincial framework and to adhere to federal and provincial laws.” The government also intends to bring amendments in the law for the protection of amenity plots in today’s session.

Minister for Katchi Abadis, Rafiq Engineer, informed the assembly last week that President Asif Ali Zardari had taken serious notice of the conversion of amenity plots into commercial and other purposes. He disclosed that the president had sought a detailed report from the Sindh government about amenity plots which had been converted for other purposes so far.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=173297