HYDERABAD, Oct 24: Sindh Local Bodies Minister Agha Siraj Durrani has said that all the provincial and federal ministers for local bodies have recommended that the prime minister revive the old municipal corporation system in the country.

Talking to journalists at the Circuit House after addressing a reception hosted in his honour by the director general of Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA) Javed Iqbal Junejo late on Thursday night, the minister said that the recommendation would now be submitted to federal cabinet and the National Assembly to debate on it to reach a final decision.

The present local government system was in conflict with provincial government’s jurisdiction on various counts. “We (four provincial local bodies ministers) have held a series of meetings with federal local bodies minister. We have recommended the prime minister revive old local bodies system because people don’t have access to functionaries in the present system,” he said.

He said that coalition partners would also be taken on board over this suggestion. Military dictators always introduced their own local bodies system in the country that suited their requirements, he said.

He said that in the present system people could not lodge complaints about their issues, the nazims did not hold open katcheries and when they could not deliver in terms of sewerage, drainage and health what was the purpose of this system.

Either the present system would have to be wound up altogether or drastic amendments would have to be made to it had clash of authorities with provincial governments, he said.

He said that district nazim considered DPO his subordinate and he dictated things the way he liked while the ordinary man’s problems remained neglected. Therefore, either the present system would be modified or wound up, he added.

Asked if he was in favour of old commissioner system, he replied in affirmative and said that officers in that system used to have magisterial powers and a deputy commissioner used to take decision on the spot.

The government also reviewed restoration of old districts but since it was more concerned about larger issues right now it would take decisions step by step, he said.

He said that some corruption cases of nazims had been exposed and they had moved the court but the provincial government would also expose them in courts.

Earlier, speaking at the dinner, the minister pledged to restore old glory of Hyderabad in coordination with District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil.

He said that he was against rural-urban divide and was all praise for the district nazim who, he said, was fully cooperating with him.

He said that more funds, if needed, would be released for Hyderabad and he would speak to the chief minister, prime minister and president in this regard.

He said that the present government had inherited crisis from its predecessors because an imported man had been thrust as prime minister on people who was not even aware of his own constituency.

He said that the presidency used to be a place of intrigues but now Asif Ali Zardari was there and no one could hatch any conspiracies there.

Sindh Fisheries Minister Zahid Bhurgri said that the outgoing government left a series of crisis for the present government in the shape of flour, electricity, water and lawlessness.

He claimed that the government would provide electricity with cheap tariff through Thar coal project and warned shopkeepers not to overcharge people otherwise they would be imprisoned and fined.

District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil said that sacrifices laid down by PPP had no precedence in the history of any other party.

The PPP-MQM cooperation and coordination would certainly go a long way in ensuring prosperity for Sindh, he said.

He said that in a recent meeting President Asif Zardari had assured full cooperation to MQM’s team about district governments.