Local Bodies Amendment Bill passed in Sindh Assembly, MQM opposes

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Wednesday adopted the local government Amendment bill 2016 with a majority vote.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) presented the bill in the assembly. Meanwhile, opposition rejected the bill and several parliamentarians stood up from their seats in protest. The opposition members also tore copies of the bill.

Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) raised commotion in the assembly and chanted slogans against the move. The party members contended that the government did not take the opposition parties in confidence over the bill.

According to the bill, the local bodies would fall under the jurisdiction of the Sindh government.

The bill states that at least once in a year the Sindh government would inspect the financial and administrative matters of the local bodies.

Empty spaces and parks would be utilized to increase finances, adding that corporations, municipal and town committees would be authorized to hand over any public park to a private organisation.

Speaking to the media outside the Sindh Assembly building MQM member and opposition leader Khwaja Izhar called the bill “a joke”. “The PPP knows nothing about law-making. The Sindh government has always mistreated Karachi,” he said.