PPP gets a new ally in Sindh

Acting Sindh Governor Nisar Ahmed Khuhro restored the commissioner system, Sindh Local Government Ordinance of 1979 and the Police Act of 1861 through three ordinances on Saturday, as the Pakistan People’s Party successfully managed to woo the Pir Pagara-led Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) into the Sindh government in place of estranged ally Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) after it reintroduced the commissionerate system in the province, a long-standing demand of the PML-F. Sindh was the only province in Pakistan where the commissioner system was not restored. Khuhro signed an ordinance to repeal the Police Ordinance of 2002 and promulgate the Police Act of 1861, abolishing the separate sections of investigation and operations in Sindh police.
“The Police Ordinance 2002 creates many problems for citizens. General Pervez Musharraf, without listening to the points of view of other stakeholders, imposed that ordinance without the will and desire of the people. At that time there was no democratic government of the people,” a Governor’s House spokesmen said.
Through another ordinance, Khuhro restored the Sindh Local Government Ordinance of 1979. “Through this ordinance the local government system had run for so many years and the people benefited from it. General Pervez Musharraf had promulgated the Local Government Ordinance of 2001 against the interests of the people,” the spokesman added.
Through this ordinance, the post of mayor would be restored in major cities and the post of district chairman would be restored to replace the nazim system introduced during Musharraf’s rule. Karachi would be divided into five or more districts and Hyderabad’s previous status of a district would be restored as well.
Khuhro signed another ordinance restoring the commissioner system in the province, whereby the defunct posts of commissioner and deputy commissioner magistrates would be restored. The ordinance empowers the district management group to resolve all issues. These measures had been presented in the Sindh Assembly by the PPP but could not be tabled in the House because of the MQM’s objections, which was the PPP’s ally in the Centre and in Sindh.
MQM RESISTS: The MQM meanwhile announced on Saturday that it would resist the restoration of the commissioner system in the province on political and legal fronts.
MQM provincial leader Raza Haroon told reporters at the Sindh Assembly building after submitting a requisition to convene an assembly session that the party would oppose the government’s decision of restoring the commissioner system. The party would resist the decision in and outside the Sindh Assembly and also in court, he added.
Haroon said the MQM had a clear stance on the issue. Acting Sindh Assembly Speaker Shahla Raza, however, claimed that the MQM had agreed on restoration of the commissioner system earlier.
REQUISITION SUBMITTED: A three-point requisition was also submitted to Sindh Assembly Secretary Hadi Bux Buriro by the MQM, asking for discussions in the House on law and order in Karachi, the row between the Karachi Electric Supply Company management and workers and gas load shedding the province.
PML-F joins the govt: In a related political development, the PML-F announced it was joining the PPP on government benches.
Two meetings were held at Kingri House on Saturday. The first meeting was held between Pir Pagara and Interior Minister Rehman Malik. Shortly after their meeting, another meeting was held between the PML-F leader and provincial ministers Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Sharjeel Memon and Ayaz Soomro. After these two meetings, Pagara decided that his party would join treasury benches in the Sindh Assembly.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Pagara said the PML-F’s demand to restore the commissioner system in Sindh had been accepted, so the party would now be with the government in Sindh as well. His party is already allied with the government in the Centre but had been in the opposition in Sindh. “The MQM and ANP MPAs should consult their leadership before taking any steps,” he added.