ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s provincial leadership files a constitutional petition in High Court of Sindh praying the court to issue directives for deferment of the announced Local Government elections in the province till the ruling by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on this count is implemented and Sindh Local Government Act is revised in line with Article 140 A of the constitution.
The petition is filed by the Leader of Opposition in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh, another senior leader of PTI Firdous Shamim Naqvi and Advocate Ali Palh. The petitioners have pointed out that Speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Ahmed Durrani had constituted a Select Committee for an amendment in the Sindh Local Government Act within 45 days and to align it with Article 140-A of the Constitution, but the matter was still pending. In February 2022, SCP had declared Sindh Local Government Ordinance in disagreement with the constitution and directed Sindh Government to make an amended LG Act.
Meanwhile, Haleem regretted that the Election Commission had announced to hold LG elections in four divisions of the province. That, the higher court should intervene and undo the ECP-Sindh’s decision and ensure the required amendment in Sindh LG Act so that the governance powers are truly devolved to the bottom level for maximum access to and benefits of the common man.
After filing of the petition in SHC-Karachi, Haleem Adil Sheikh, during a media chat there, said when the constitutional institutions come up with un-constitutional decisions/steps, the people are forced to come on the streets in protest.
He said the section 21 of Sindh Local Government Act-2013 were not in agreement with the Constitution of Pakistan and SCP ruling on it was there. The holding of LG elections in Sindh amounted to the violation of the above ruling and the apex court should have taken suo moto notice of this development.
“The court should have taken up this issue during day time at least,” he asserted. He warned that his party would strongly show its concern and would hold a big protest demonstration in front the ECP-Karachi Office.
He criticized that Sindh Government had made Sindh Assembly as hostage and the decisions made on the floor of the house did not bear any weight before PPP government. It was agreed between the government and the opposition to form a Select Committee tasked with bringing amendment in LG Act in 45 days.
He alleged that Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s leadership was not sincere with Urdu speaking community and had badly failed to guard their rights and interests, but the leaders were in search of personal gains. In the next Local Government and general elections, he said, MQM-P would be rejected by Mohajirs. It was the PTI which continued fighting for the rights of urban population as well.
MQM-P had managed to get few ministries in Sindh Government by bargaining on the Urdu speaking community. Haleem Adil Sheikh said the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan had lost his credibility and had become a disputed person in the eyes of the people of Pakistan. He said the people of Sindh had rejected the accord between PPP and MQM, and the former would also have bear big price of it.
PTI leader said the superior court should take suo moto notice also against the clearance of 150 persons from Exit Control List, who were allegedly involved in mega corruption and other serious crimes. The Interior Minister with one stroke of his pen had cleared the way for all the wanted on different counts, who now could easily flee the country. The government parties (earlier the opposition) were afraid of being firmly grilled for their wrong doings as they knew that PTI would come into power once again with big majority in next general elections.
PTI’s another leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi said that after filing of this very important petition, his party would file contempt of the court petition against ECP.