SC directs Sindh govt to establish empowered local bodies departments
Pakistan
SC gave local bodies authority to the local governments.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday has directed the Sindh government to establish empowered local bodies institutions across the province.
While announcing its judgment on a petition filed by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed remarked that local governments are formed under Article 140-A of the Constitution which binds provincial governments to set up autonomous local bodies departments.
The provincial government cannot launch any project that comes under the jurisdiction of the local government. Devising master plan and its execution is the responsibility of the LG institutions, the court remarked.
The court also annulled Article 74 and Article 75 of Sindh Local Government Act which are related to the transfer of functions from councils to government and commercial schemes.
Later, Chief Minister of Sindh (CM) Murad Ali Shah said that the provincial government has accepted the ruling of SC regarding authority of local bodies departments.
Talking to media, the CM said they have right to appeal if they find anything inappropriate, informing that the provincial authorities fully adhered to Article 140A. He asked whether all the representatives should sit at their homes if local councilors are to be granted the authorities of Prime Minister (PM), CM and cabinet.
It is to be mentioned here that MQM-P had challenged the SLGA 2013 in SC in October 2013. The act was passed into law by Sindh Assembly on August 19.
The apex court had reserved its decision on MQM s petition on October 26, 2020.
