Two Provinces: Different Local Government Bills
After a lot of confusion and campaigning against the fate of local government bodies, the Punjab Government finally brought the local government amendment bill in the parliament this month. The new bill was passed by PML-N with majority votes despite opposition’s protest.
The new Punjab local government bill is a violation of the national constitution as well as of the charter of democracy. In the charter of democracy two former prime ministers had made written commitment to the nation that the LG system will not be abolished, and its elections will be conducted under the provincial election commission.
Whereas according to new local government bill of Punjab, elections will be held under the newly established election authority by the Punjab government. This step lack transparency as it is not clear yet who will be selected in this election monitoring authority .
On the other hand in Sindh, coliation partners PPP, MQM and ANP went through a series of consulting meetings and finally decided to hold elections in 120 days after the bill is passed by the assembly . But the important thing to mention here is that the Sindh coalition government lead by PPP wants to conduct elections under the election commission, unlike the dubious election authority constituted by Shahbaz Sharif in Punjab.
absolutely perfect.. Shame on Ganja League that they always talk about COD but they didn’t worked according to the Charter of Democracy.
THANK YOU DEMOCRACY
KARACHI: The Local Government Amendment bill 2010 was unanimously approved by the Sindh Assembly on Monday.
Speaking after the passage of the bill, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said the unanimous approval was testimony to the unity among the people and parties of Sindh.
Local bodies’ minister Agha Siraj Durrani said the roles played by President Asif Ali Zardari, Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain were crucial in reaching consensus on the bill.
The ANP congratulated the government on empowering local governments, saying this was the first time a democratic government would hold local government elections.
Meanwhile, a Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) politician, Rafique Engineer, said the tabling of the bill was proof that the federal government was committed to the provincial.
Sindh’s Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq also said that Sindh has shown more political maturity as all decisions were taken in consultation with the coalition partners. Local bodies’ elections will now be held after 120 days on party basis. — DawnNews
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