KARACHI: Abrupt political developments soon after promulgation of Sindh Peoples Local Government Ordinance 2012 in the wee hours of Friday has affected the PPP-led coalition government, as Awami National Party, National Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League Functional announced parting ways over reservations on SPLGO.
The PML-Q minister Shahryar Mahar too reportedly announced quitting the government, however, Haleem Adil Shaikh, Advisor to Chief Minister for Relief, who belongs to PML-Q, said Mahar's resignation could be his personal decision, as his party has not yet decided to quit the government.
Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh, general secretary of PML-F and the Advisor on Special Education, while talking to the newsmen at the launching of annual report on Child Labor, compiled by Iqbal Detho, at a local hotel this night said "All of ministers and advisors of my party would tender resignation. We reject the SPLGO 2012 which tantamount to dividing Sindh. It was promulgated in the darkness of night without taking into confidence any of the other coalition parties except MQM. The PML-F had already expressed its reservations over the proposed system but surprisingly they signed it in haste late in the night and promulgated immediately. They are not even showing the ordinance to us after promulgation."
Imtiaz Shaikh termed it an injustice to the people of Sindh as the Ordinance imposes two different systems in the province. Describing the SPLGO as impractical, the PML-F leader said the chief minister contacted them today after promulgation of ordinance but his party would consult other allies before holding talks with the government.
Meanwhile, NPP minister Abid Jatoi also reportedly has announced his decision to quit the government while Muhammad Ali Malkani, Aijaz Shah Sheerazi and Shahryar Mahar too are said to have announced tendering resignations however Haleem Adil Shaikh confirmed only of Shaharyar Mahar saying he announced quitting government in the presence of Pir Sahib Pagara. Haleem Adil while talking to PPI on phone said his party would not quit the government.
"Yes we have reservations on the ordinance, but we do not reject it as we had agreed most of its points. I talked to Ch. Pervez Elahi on this situation who said PML-Q would remain part of the government", he said.
Haleem Adil said the government had contacted them today but the local leadership of PML-Q has decided to consult each other and then respond to the government. He also complained that although the senior minister Pir Mazhar had promised that the coalition parties would be taken into confidence before finalising the draft ordinance but they had in fact acted contrarily.
Meanwhile, the Pir Sahib Pagara has called Rajar, his party's minister in federal cabinet, back to Karachi.