ISLAMABAD - The directives of the Sindh High Court to hold LB elections in the province may ignite a tussle between the ruling PPP and MQM, as the PPP is in favour of the magistracy system.
The debate over the local bodies has been very much in between the two partners, as MQM is strictly adhering to its stance and had even parted its ways with the coalition government because it supports the local bodies against magistracy system. The PPP govt had restored but later withdrawn on MQM’s pressure.
When contacted, a central leader of MQM, Wasim Akhtar MNA, welcomed the court orders to hold local bodies elections in Sindh within 90 days. Wasim Akhtar also called for transferring powers to the lower level, adding that the development works had been stopped at the grass root level after the deactivation of the system. To a question, he said the PPP and the MQM were holding meetings to introduce a new arrangement, which would be a mixture of local bodies and magistracy system.
Meanwhile, former chairman of National Reconstruction Bureau Danyal Aziz, who has been active for the revival of local bodies in the country, has termed the directives as a great achievement of his team. However, he said it was yet to be seen that the ruling PPP would consult the Supreme Court or not.
He said the SHC ordered to hold elections under the local bodies system, while the Balochistan High Court (BHC) had already rejected the magistracy system and all the magistrates in Balochistan were removed. Danyal added that they had already submitted the BHC’s decision to the SHC.