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Wrapping up the local government system PM sahib? Calling the system of local governance, introduced by former President Pervez Musharraf, illegal and unconstitutional the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Yousuf Raza Gilani intends to install ‘Administrators’ in each district instead. This means good bye to the strength certain parties enjoy in their districts of power. This also means all-out confrontation with some major political parties of Pakistan – even their allies.

‘Former president Pervez Musharraf’s decision to make local governments a federal subject under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution was illegal and undemocratic,’ he told reporters after attending a function at the ministry of science and technology.

The prime minister announced on Wednesday that elections for local bodies had been postponed till the improvement of law and order.

Local governments will be dissolved and administrators from the bureaucracy will be appointed to look after their affairs during the interim period.

Source: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/12-gilani+says+local+govts+illegal+unconstitutional–bi-04

I’m interested in finding out how the MQM reacts to this. They have, undoubtedly, put in a lot of time and effort into the development and uplift of Karachi and will not let it go that easy. All I’ve heard uptill now is that the MQM has demanded the local bodies elections be held on time. I’ve heard no direct response to what the Prime Minister has said. Or is there some understanding already?

I see this step as possibly a direct confrontation on two fronts: controlling the Punjab from the grass-root level and more importantly, with the MQM in Karachi and Hyderabad – if no understanding is reached with them.

There was a big ad on the back page of todays Dawn, an appeal by the local governments of Punjab addressed to Zardari and Nawaz Sharif. The advertisement quoted clauses from the constitution of Pakistan citing the validity of the local government system.

Now it seems as if Zardari wants his puppets installed in every district, every town, every city. He won’t just settle for a Presidency that has issued more ordinances in a year than anyone else could think of and passed hardly any laws through parliament.

People’s democracy or Civilian Dictatorship?

Get a life!