KARACHI: The Pak Sarzameen Party on Wednesday filed a petition in the Sindh High Court for implementation of a Supreme Court judgement handed down last month on empowerment of local government in Sindh.

The PSP through its vice chairman Arshad Vohra petitioned the SHC and impleaded the provincial and election authorities as respondents.

The petitioner contended that instead of devolving the political, administrative and financial matters to elected local authorities, the Sindh government had absorbed all functions of the local government of Sindh, which have been given under Article 140-A of the Constitution.

He further asserted that the functions of the local government were building control & town planning, water supply, sewerage and waste disposal, local/public transport and civil facilities like parks, playground, libraries, mosques, graveyards, parking facilities, etc, and under Article 140-A, the provincial government was obliged to establish a LG system and devolve political, administrative and financial responsibilities and authority to elected representatives of local government.

In its Feb 2 judgement, the petitioner argued that the apex court had emphasised on Article 140-A of the Constitution to set up local government possessing meaningful authority.

He further submitted that as per apex court order, the laws made by the provincial government, including Sindh Building Control Ordinance 1979, KDA Order 1957, Malir Development Authority Act, 1993, Lyari Development Authority Act, 1993, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board Act, 1996, Hyderabad Development Authority Act, 1976, Shewan Development Authority, Act, 1993, Larkana Development Authority Act, 1994, Sindh Mass Transit Authority Act, 2014, the Sindh Food Authority Act, 2016, the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency Act, 2014 and any dispensation pertaining to the board of revenue or the master plan department or any other development authority in the province of Sindh and purporting to override and conflicting action taken by an elected local government were held to be against the scheme of the Constitution and the provincial government was directed to bring all those laws in accord with the mandate of Article 140-A.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2022

Opinion

First line of defence

First line of defence

Pakistan’s foreign service has long needed reform to be able to adapt to global changes and leverage opportunities in a more multipolar world.

Editorial

Eid amidst crises
Updated 31 Mar, 2025

Eid amidst crises

Until the Muslim world takes practical steps to end these atrocities, these besieged populations will see no joy.
Women’s rights
Updated 01 Apr, 2025

Women’s rights

Such judgements, and others directly impacting women’s rights should be given more airtime in media.
Not helping
Updated 02 Apr, 2025

Not helping

If it's committed to peace in Balochistan, the state must draw a line between militancy and legitimate protest.
Hard habits
Updated 30 Mar, 2025

Hard habits

Their job is to ensure that social pressures do not build to the point where problems like militancy and terrorism become a national headache.
Dreams of gold
30 Mar, 2025

Dreams of gold

PROSPECTS of the Reko Diq project taking off soon seem to have brightened lately following the completion of the...
No invitation
30 Mar, 2025

No invitation

FOR all of Pakistan’s hockey struggles, including their failure to qualify for the Olympics and World Cup as well...