After reaching an eventual agreement with its coalition partner – the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) – for not altering the current administrative boundaries of Hyderabad, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led Sindh government finally notified the appointment of commissioners and deputy commissioner in the province on Thursday – doing away with the local bodies system of 2001. However, the previous administrative status of Karachi was restored – dividing the city into five districts: South, Central, Malir, East and West.
The Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO)-2011 that was promulgated by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad in August had expired on November 4.
Well-placed sources told Pakistan Today that the Sindh chief secretary had signed the notification regarding revival of the 1979 Commissionerate System on November 5, but the notification was held until the deadlock was resolved.
The MQM had insisted on continuing the SLGO-2001; however, most members of the ruling PPP opposed the passage of the ordinance from the provincial legislature.
On the assurance that the status of Hyderabad district would not be changed, the MQM was persuaded to restore the commissionerate system.
It was also decided that a new bill of local governments would shortly be presented in the Sindh Assembly.
According to the notification, Roshan Ali Sheikh was appointed as the Karachi Commissioner, Ahmed Baksh Narejo as Hyderabad commissioner, Ghulam Hussain Memon as Mirpurkhas commissioner, Inamullah Dharejo as Sukkur commissioner and Abdul Aleem Lashari was given the charge of Larkana division.
Under the new system, Karachi will be restored to its previous five districts. The South district will comprise former towns of Saddar, Lyari and Jamshed; Central district will consist of Liaquatabad, North Karachi, Gulberg and North Nazimabad towns, Malir district will have Malir, Gadap and Ghazi Brohi union council and Jaffar Tayyar; East district would include Shah Faisal, Landhi, Gulshan, Korangi and some part of Malir; while the West district will comprise Baldia, SITE, Gadap and Orangi towns.
The deputy commissioners for the five districts of Karachi would be: Mustafa Jamal Qazi for South; Ghanhwar Leghari for West; Shaukat Jokhio for Malir; Matanat Ali Khan for Central and Qazi Jan Muhammad for East.
