The Sindh government has decided that the development works undertaken by the defunct City District Government Karachi (CDGK) would now be carried out by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), Pakistan Today has learnt.
The notification in this regard was issued by Sindh Chief Secretary Sindh Raja Muhammad Abbas.
According to the existent law SLGO 79, Act 2011, any municipal corporation including the KMC can only provide municipal services.
Constitutional and legal experts have termed the decision as unconstitutional and in violation of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance 1979 Act, 2011, which was passed by the Sindh Assembly on July 9, 2011.
According to sources, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led provincial government made the move under pressure from its coalition partner, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
After the nazim system was discarded, the MQM wanted the PPP to transfer the authority to carry out development works in Karachi to the KMC.
The sources said MQM leader Raza Haroon is unofficially the head of the KMC and runs the routine business of the corporation.
Constitutional expert Barrister Zameer Ghumro told Pakistan Today that after the SLGO 2001 was discarded, development works are supposed to be carried out under the supervision of deputy commissioners. However, the provincial government’s move violates constitution and is an illegal act.
Legal expert and head of the ‘Justice for All’, advocate Haq Nawaz Talpur said the government has practically divided Sindh into two parts by issuing the notification.