KARACHI, July 9: The Sindh government restored the commissionerate system in Sindh on Saturday by repealing the Local Government Order of 2001 and amending the Sindh Land Revenue Act of 1967.

According to an official statement, Acting Governor Nisar Ahmed Khuhro promulgated three ordinances with immediate effect, reviving the Sindh Land Revenue Act 1967, Sindh Local Government Ordinance 1979 and Police Act 1861.

The acting governor repealed the Police Ordinance 2002 and signed an ordinance restoring the Police Act 1861. Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said at a press conference that repeal of the 2001 order would protect the actions taken under it. A notification restoring the old districts through amendments to the revenue rules will be issued soon.

He said the new system, introduced by “an individual and not by the assembly”, was beyond the grasp of the administration as well as the public. Both sides were in favour of a revival of the old system, the chief minister claimed.

Mr Shah said the ordinances would be placed before the assembly within three months, adding that although the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had the right to oppose these in the house, “we are in majority to get the laws passed”.

When asked why the PPP did not go ahead with the changes when it had the majority even before, Mr Shah said the selection of time was a prerogative of the party which now felt to come to the expectations of people by fulfilling their longstanding demand.

He said the local government system 2001 could not stand test of the time as it failed to deliver and deal with day-to-day issues, while the old local bodies system was better understood by people. He said laws were made to reform society and the old system had been restored keeping in view the requirement and expectations of people.

Mr Shah said people were fully conversant with the commissionerate system and it was clear to everyone who would impose Section 144 in case of the law and order situation and responsibility for the action would be with the executive magistrate.

“Our economy is agriculture-based, but after amendments earlier to the revenue act, rights of lands were changed illegally on a large-scale and no-one was prepared to accept its ownership from the provincial, city, district and tehsil governments,” he said. Besides, it was in clash with the Constitution.

The chief minister said that after 18th Amendment there were only two lists of federal subjects and the list No-2 in which the centre and the four provinces had authority of exercising powers that would be determined by the CCI, while the rest of departments were residual subjects belonging to the provinces and it was up to the provinces to devolve them according to their choice.

In reply to another question, the chief minister said that in order to make powers of the magistrate simple, the criminal law would be amended to enable the magistracy system to discharge day-to-day problems.

He said under the revenue law, the provincial government would be empowered to delimit divisions and districts and only after clearance of the situation postings of commissioner and deputy commissioner would be made.

About the acceptance of resignations of MQM ministers and advisors, Mr Shah said this question should be asked from the acting governor. However, he said: “So far they (MQM) are with us as it is our endeavour to continue the process of reconciliation that is why their portfolios are kept as per decision of the party leadership.”