Sindh Local Govt Amendment Bill a black law: Asad Umar

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar on Sunday said that Sindh Local Government Amendment Bill is a black law.

Asad Umar said that situation of the province in worsening while rulers of the province are getting rich. We want public representatives to solve issues of the masses, he added.

A day earlier, Sindh Assembly on Saturday approved Sindh Local Government (Amendment) Bill-2021 amid opposition’s ruckus.

The amended bill of the new LG system was tabled in the Sindh Assembly by provincial LG minister Nasir Hussain Shah. As the session was marred with sloganeering, the legislators from the government managed to pass the Sindh Local Government (Amendment) Bill-2021.

Opposition members tore the copies of the agenda when the house gave clause-by-clause approval to the bill.

According to the provisions of the amendment bill, towns will be set up in 6 divisional headquarters of Sindh including Karachi. The chairmen of towns and municipal committees will be elected through a show of hands. Clause to hold election of chairpersons of local body councils by secret ballot was withdrawn.

In the Local Government Amendment Bill, local body councils have been given powers in the affairs of 9 provincial departments and local government councils will also be included in the affairs of Sindh Police.

According to the bill, the SSP will be bound to liaise with the concerned local body chairman and police officers will report to the local council on police matters and law and order. Local government representatives will not have the power in prosecution, police administration and criminal cases.

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