Sindh’s two local government laws
The Musharraf era local bodies system introduced by the PPP-dominated Sindh Assembly in the teeth of strong reaction from across Sindh was scrapped by the same legislature on Thursday. Instead the 1979 system was reintroduced despite opposition this time from the MQM. Interestingly the change has been affected only three weeks before the demise of the assembly. The news has led to jubilation in Sindh where it is being interpreted as a victory for the opposition. Saner elements though see it as an election curveball. With one move the PPP has taken much wind out of the sails of its opponents. A combination of political forces including Pagara’s PML-F, the nationalist parties, PML-N, ANP, JUI-F and Jamaat-e-Islami had opposed the Sindh People’s Local Government Ordinance calling it a measure aimed at laying the basis of the future division of Sindh. This struck a chord with many and hurt the PPP the most. The PPP’s opponents had depended on the issue to deprive the ruling party of a good chunk of its voters. With the PPP wrapping up the system it had itself introduced, the opposition has been left high and dry.
But does the decision taken by the Sindh Assembly on Thursday indicate a change of heart in the PPP leadership? It appears from the speeches delivered by some of the PPP MPAs that the leadership thinks there was nothing wrong with the previous system and its decision to replace it is dictated by circumstances related to elections. As Agha Siraj Durrani put it, there was nothing wrong with the former law and it is being changed only due to public opposition. Four months back the public opinion didn’t matter. With the elections due in May, it does now. Qaim Ali Shah too made it clear later that the change was being made only because the Sindhis were opposed to the Musharraf era system. Interestingly the PPP still wants to keep the MQM as an ally.
The new bill has been sent to Governor Ishratul Ibad who according to Article 116(2) and (3) of the Constitution has ten days to sign it into law or return it with objections. In case it is passed again by the Assembly, it will have to be again sent to the Governor who has another ten days to sign it. After this, irrespective of his views, the bill would automatically become a law. Governor Ishartul Ibad has left for London. He can thus keep the bill for twenty days. It remains to be seen if the process can be completed by the time the assembly is dissolved. As Speaker Nisar Khuhro put it, “If the local bodies system approved by the Assembly is not implemented now, the next assembly would consider it.”
