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KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Tuesday praised the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s verdict regarding the local bodies of Sindh, terming it “historic”.
Addressing a press conference at the party’s Bahadurabad office, MQM-P convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that the historic decision of the top court reflected the aspirations of the people of Pakistan, adding that “this day is the day of gratitude and a heartiest satisfaction”.
“Today’s decision has strengthened our faith in the courts,” the MQM-P senior leader said. He invited all political parties and students to stand united in implementing today’s historic verdict in letter and spirit.
Speaking on the occasion, MQM-P Senator Faisal Subzwari termed the recent agreement between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) an attempt to hoodwink the masses.
According to him, the MQM had filed the petition in the court in 2017, that had resulted in today’s verdict and a win for the masses.
The SC’s verdict
In a decision on a plea filed by the MQM in 2013 against the Sindh Local Government Act 2013, the apex court told the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government to transfer financial, administrative and political powers to the local government.
In the verdict, the apex court said that it was the constitutional responsibility of the Sindh government to empower local government bodies by ensuring devolution of powers to the local government representatives.
The top court further said that the provincial government could not initiate a project if it fell under the purview of the local government.
It also declared sections 74 and 75 of the Local Government Act void, adding that the government should take measures to make the law in accordance with Article 140 of the Constitution.
The apex court further told the Sindh government to amend the laws in which there was a contradiction between the powers of the provincial and the local government.
