HYDERABAD: Federal Minister for Political Affairs Senator Moula Bakhsh Chandio on Monday said Sindh People's Local Government Ordinance 2012, does not pose a threat to the unity of Sindh.

“It indeed transforms authority to govern the local matters to the grassroots level, which is actually the essence of democracy,” the senator said while speaking to media representatives.

He criticised nationalist leaders for detracting the new local government system without thoroughly vetting it.

“These days they are siding with the political forces who are the proponents of Kalabagh dam,” he said.

The minister questioned as to why the nationalists are opposing the system while they got themselves elected under the same system during the local government elections conducted by former president Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Chandio clarified that a Sindhi could never support the division of Sindh adding that the local government system was not for division but timely service at the doorsteps.

“It is easy to force markets shut and block the highways but the real test is when a leader has to motivate the people to vote them in elections,” he observed adding that the nationalists had never been able to win a seat so far.

The minister asked the nationalists to take back their call for strike on September 26 which had been given by Save Sindh Committee.

Chadio said that the ordinance was not a final document as it was yet to go through the process of legislation in the Sindh Assembly.

Commenting on problems faced by the Hindu community, he said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was bringing the Hindu leaders in the mainstream so that they could themselves solve their community's issue.

However, he added that soon a parliamentary committee would review the issues of the Hindu community and would also recommend legislation on the important issues.

In reply to a question about writing a letter to the Swiss government for reopening the alleged graft cases, the minister said the government respects the judiciary and letting Yousuf Raza Gilani resign was a proof.

The minister also condemned the attack on Hyderabad press club during the Ishq-e-Rasool day protests on September 21.