The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has decided to take legal action against recent amendments to the Local Government Act 2013, the party said in Karachi. It expressed serious concern over the passage of the changes and plans to approach the Sindh High Court (SHC) soon.
Party convener Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui directed legal experts to meet and plan a strategy. A delegation from the party’s legal team then met former federal minister and Barrister Farogh Naseem to draft a constitutional petition against the Sindh government’s amendments, which is expected to be filed shortly.
Objections to mayors serving as administrators
The party’s main objection concerns a provision allowing sitting mayors and deputy mayors to become administrators once the current local bodies’ terms expire. The MQM-P described this as a “conspiracy to hijack” the upcoming local government elections.
Calling the Sindh government’s decision unconstitutional and mala fide, the party demanded that administrative powers go to neutral, non-political individuals when the term ends. It said this would ensure free, fair and transparent polls.
