My Letter Published In Today Dawn(03 aug)

THIS is apropos of the letter ‘Restoration of commissionerate system’ (July 27). The writer has hailed the restoration of CS as well as the Local Government Ordinance (1979) by the Sindh government with the hope that the revival of the LG in Sindh would eradicate the nefarious aim of terrorists and elements destabilising Karachi’s social order.

A glance over the situation in Karachi during 2001-2008 tells us that the situation in the city was magnificent and it was on the path to prosperity. But before the LG the picture of the city, which contributes 68 per cent of the total revenue to the federal government, was ridiculously deplorable.

Thus, it is unjust to say that the repeal of the LG would make the situation better as commissioners will be appointed on a partisanship basis, as history bears the vindication of the fact. Hence, political involvement is inevitable in both the systems.

The step will actually halt the economic development.

Undoubtedly, the devolution process, after the NFC and the 18th Amendment, will be incomplete unless a vibrant LG is put in place with pure demarcation of responsibilities between the provincial and the local government embedded in permanent local arrangements.

For this purpose the LG is preponderant for a number of reasons.

First, the LG forms an integral part of the democratic apparatus allowing greater participation by citizens in the management and control of their day-to-day affairs.

The trade-off and assignment of priorities among various development projects remains more realistic and pragmatic under the LG. Their intimate knowledge about local problems and solution to resolve those problems lead to better outcomes and more efficient utilisation of resources.

Second, empirical evidences show that raising taxes or charging user fees for services at the local level is relatively easier.

Only 2 per cent of the population is tendering tax and the step will beef up tax collection.

Third, the deprivation index shows that at least 80 districts of the country suffer from deprivation of basic services. Only the LG with greater participation of the inhabitants can plan and execute projects and mobilise resources needed to finance them.

A provincial government is too big a unit to be able to carry out local projects in any meaningful way.

Fourth, it is a fact that basic services in Pakistan can be obtained through money or approaching an MNA or an MPA. In this case, a local nazim living among the people will be helpful.

However, there were certain flaws in the LG system (2001). For example, nazims were elected indirectly and had powers over revenue records and disaster management. This created a lack of administrative linkage between Union Councils, tehsils and district governments. Lastly, the almost non-existent accountability of the local government is worth mentioning.

By reforming the Local Government Ordinance 2001, the system can be made efficient as far as the law and order situation is concerned. Along with it, the economic sector too will a get a boost.

MUHAMMAD KAMRAN SHAIKH
Karachi

as much as concern in punjab the local govt system just proved a bone of contention. every one is against the other one.
this is very gud democratic way but our people has not any manners to act in a democratic manner.

Sister,the reforms in LGO will not only spawn fruits in poltical sector but also will it beef up the economic sector of the country. The situation is same across the country,including punjab.However, the authorities concerned will have to face the music owing to their churlishness in long term.if not, the coming generation is bound to fraught with the twinge of their non-seriousness.

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Baroz-e-Hashar main be-khof ghuss jaonga Jannat mien,
Wahin se aye thay Adam woh meray baap Ka ghar hai
(Allam Iqbal)

@ Kamran Shaikh

Devolution Plan 2001 has given us nothing but corruption, ethnic strife, intolerance and the gunny bags of dead bodies. I can't understand why are you taking about Karachi only ? Go to inner Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and KP; and see the ravages of devolution system aka Devilish System.
Yes, political representation at the lowest tier of administrative hierarchy seems irremissible but it can be better achieved through reviving the erstwhile offices of City Mayors, Commissioners and Executive Magistrates according to the LGS of 1979.

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still searching for my soul..............

LG system in Sindh
Posted on August 11, 2011

Against the wishes and aspirations of five crore Sindhis, the controversial Local Government System has been imposed in Sindh province. The intellectuals, writers, activists, artists and even a man in the street are protesting against this system. A successful strike and shutter down throughout the province on Monday must serve as an eye opener for our myopic rulers.Rationally speaking, this system in question could not bring any positive change to the people of Sindh province who have suffered a lot at the hands of Nazims and Naib Nazims.In the truest sense, the LG system in the province proved to be a ruthless and corrupt. This system criminalized the Sindhi society. The progress and development was blocked. Only selected sections and areas were developed. There was much more focus on non-productive schemes and projects. This system upset the spiritual, social and intellectual development in Sindhi society. Mentally retarded men were made Nazims and Naib Nazims in the province. There was complete social and political repression of the vast majority of people of Sindh. Consequently, people grew frustrated and ventilated anger even during the dictatorial days at the proper forums but there was no one to address their grievances.This system has become so much hateful in the eyes of the people of Sindh, one can imagine from the complete strike and shutter down in the province. Now with every passing day disgust is deepening and repulsion is rising against the re-imposed LG System. In certain segments in the Sindhi society, President Zadari was revered as a symbol of resistance but this one anti–people decision has made him “persona non grata” for the people of the province.This imposition of the Local Government system again in the province is, indeed, a massive “setback” for Pakistan People’s Party in the province.My professor of Political Science and Law who used to say, “For a visionary leader it is always important to understand psyche of the people. He must also explain to the people whenever he takes such tough and unpopular decisions.” Had the President and his team tried to appreciate innate psyche of Sindhi people, they would have, first of all not taken such irrational and disruptive decision, to cease and rollback it.The people of Sindh are unique in their love and hate. If they love anyone then they love unconditionally and to the extreme and when they are compelled to hate anybody then they also hate to the extreme. Second, they can sacrify their lives but they have not learnt to cheat three things: One is their Mother (they call it Jeejal), the second is their Motherland (they call it Jeejal Sindh) and the third is their Murshid (every Sindhi considers Shah Laif as his Murshid). All the afore-mentioned three things have taught them the meaning of courage, tenacity, love, joy and human harmony. Politically speaking, ill-advice of myopic men has caused irreparable damage to the person and political standing of President Zardari because of this hasty decision. It has, indeed, deflated the value of PPP in the eyes of its voters and sympathizers and destroyed the growing image of the President in and abroad.In order to avert such catastrophic consequences, the President is requested to pay heed to the following few viable submissions:First, a radical shake-up is ‘sine qua non’ in the comity of counselors and advisers who always tender such advice which becomes a source of infamy and embarrassment for the President himself and his party; Second, advise the Prime Minister to direct the audit and accountability of the past Nazims and Naib Nazims who looted billions of rupees during Musharraf regime and did nothing substantial things but only gaudy and cosmetic things. Third, even after the imposition of controversial LG System in the province, peace and normalcy is not brought back to the province, particular Karachi. Mr President life is more than power, pelf and Presidency, your government has utterly disappointed the people of Pakistan and grieved the people of Sindh but the Sindhis are like a lush green and shade giving tree —- the woodcutters come and try to cut its branches but the tree never stops giving shade —- so the Sindhis will again shower you with compassion and mercy if your government starts delivering and takes urgent steps to console the people of Sindh who did not expect such a decision from a person of your stature, address their genuine grievances becasue in such a strategy lies your own future and that of your party. Otherwise, this decision has dismal realities.

Hashim Abro

Islamabad

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still searching for my soul..............

Devolution plan 2001 was not embodiment of all plans.It is why i suggested in my second last para of the letter that there is profound need of reforming the devolution plan in lieu of abolishing it.Moreover, 18th amendment and NFC award promised autonomy of the provinces along with devolution of powers at the lowest level. The wipping out of LGO(2001) at the spur of the time will definitely freeze the powers at the provincial level.Ultimately, better results which can be spawned by NFC AND 18th Amendment will end into smoke and common people will not cherish the festivities of such awards. Yes, interior parts of the country really sufferred at the behest of the plan.However,they sufferred owing to the indirect elections of the town and district nazims and lack of funds.By replacing the indirect election procedure with adult franchise, the plan(2001) can furnish sweetful fruits.Further, it should also be amended that the nazims nominated for elections must not be affiliated with any party .Likewise, nazims should be made accountable to an autonomous body so as to root out corruption from funds. There are such other reforms which should be introduced into the LGO(2001).Coming to the reforms in LGO (1979), the amendments in this plan can benifit economically.However, poltical front will remain similar as it is now. The dynastic politics will permeate deep into the roots of pakistan and leadership vaccum is bound to exist forever at such deplorable scenario.As i mentioned in my letter that the law and order situation was magnificent during 2001-2008 and its deterioration started after 2008,the LGO cannot be blamed for ethnic strife and dead bodies. corruption can be avoided by making the nazims accountable for their exploration of the funds.Thus, reforms in LGO(2001) are preferable than in LGO (1979).

__________________
Baroz-e-Hashar main be-khof ghuss jaonga Jannat mien,
Wahin se aye thay Adam woh meray baap Ka ghar hai
(Allam Iqbal)

I want to clear the point here that the protest was designed by sindhi nationalist. The reason of the protest was impostion of two different Local Government Ordinances in one province. The act ,apparently, was deemed as a symblol of bifurcating the sindh(TOBA NA AUZ BILLAH). The people of Sindh protested against the division of hyderabad into four districts and unison of some districts in karachi because the act converted the sindhi majority into minority in hyderabad and karachi simultaneously.I also oppose this stance of the government. Shortcomings adduced by Sir Hashim in his column can be whittled away by reforming LGO(2001).Similarly, Sindhi media such as KTN and Kawish can also play towering role in awaring the people of benifits of reformed LGO which can be designed in accordance with their wishes.I being a patiotic sindhi and pakistani understand the fragility of the matter but one should not mired into emotional feelings overcoming rational thinking.
I love You Sindh and Pakistan

__________________
Baroz-e-Hashar main be-khof ghuss jaonga Jannat mien,
Wahin se aye thay Adam woh meray baap Ka ghar hai
(Allam Iqbal)