No one should be shocked, surprised by amendment: MQM-P

ISLAMABAD: MQM-P on Wednesday stressed the need for legal guarantees and enhanced powers for local governments, as Farooq Sattar said no one should be worried and shocked by the proposed constitutional amendment.

Given that the MQM-P has always been a staunched advocate of strong local governments, the party leaders again pressed their case while talking media persons outside the Parliament House, as they hope that the 27th Amendment will give constitutional guarantees to the system.

Read more: 27th Amendment: Speaker tasked with developing consensus

Speaking on the occasion, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said they had contacted the government themselves on the 27th Amendment and they had only one demand [strong local governments with constitutional guarantees] at the time of 26th too.

Pakistan is currently passing through one of the worst periods in history, said Siddiqui who added that empowered local governments would solve many problems.

The 27th Amendment also says that the education should again be a federal subject and the MQM convener backed the suggestion, saying there was a need for a uniform syllabus.

He also said that the 27th Amendment was about good governance and better understanding among the provinces.

Read more: 27th Amendment: Govt to take coalition partners into confidence

Similarly, Sattar said there was need to further expand the laws related to the local governments.

There should be autonomy for locals governments too after the provincial autonomy [achieved thanks to the 18th Amendment], the MQM leader remarked.

To press his case, Sattar cited the example of Punjab Assembly which, he said, recently fully endorsed the Article 140-A that covers the subject of local governments.

He also revealed that the law minister [Azam Nazeer Tarar] had assured them that the 27th Amendment would solve the issue.

It’s a developing story. Details to follow.