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PPP bows to MQM’s demand, shelves bill on commissionerate system

KARACHI - The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has accepted an MQM’s demand that all lawmaking, especially those linked to the thorny issue of re-introduction of commissionerate system in Sindh, would be made in consultation.

The move is seen as an attempt by the PPP to appease the MQM and bring it back into the ruling fold. The move means that the Sindh government will not table the amended local government bill in the Sindh Assembly to replace the local bodies system with the British-era commissionerate system.
Earlier, the Sindh government had announced that the amended local government bill would be introduced in the provincial assembly as it had the required majority the house to get it passed without any difficulty.
An agreement between the two parties emerged on Friday after a five-hour meeting of a committee set up by President Asif Ali Zardari. Zardari has been holding talks with political leaders from both sides for the last one week to sort out issues that had led to a political crisis.
The five-hour-long meeting between Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah was held at the Governor’s House.
According to a press release issued by the Governor’s House, the decision was taken “in accordance with the vision” of President Zardari and MQM chief Altaf Hussain and in the light of consultations held between the two party heads last Thursday.
The meeting also discussed the issue of commissioner system — a bone of contention between the two parties. A report on the meeting will be submitted to the president in next couple of days for his assent. Leaders from both parties considered the move as a breakthrough which they said would lower the political temperature and put an end to hostilities.
The MQM had earlier rejected the government’s proposed bill and conveyed its reservations to Zardari.
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