KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has moved the Sindh High Court (SHC) against the Sindh Local Government Bill 2026, arguing that the proposed amendments could affect local government elections and the functioning of elected local bodies.
The petition, filed against the bill recently presented in the Sindh Assembly, said the proposed changes were inconsistent with Article 140-A of the Constitution and sought their withdrawal. JI Karachi Chief Monem Zafar, his deputy and Opposition Leader in the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Saifuddin Advocate, and KMC Deputy Parliamentary Leader Taimoor Ahmed jointly filed the petition.
The Sindh government, Local Government Department and Election Commission of Pakistan have been named respondents.
Speaking to the media outside the high court, Monem Zafar said JI rejected the bill and alleged that it could influence the local government elections. He said the legislation did not provide for the full devolution of political, administrative and financial powers required under Article 140-A.
He also criticised the Sindh government for not releasing the Provincial Finance Commission for 18 years, saying this had affected the development of an effective local government system. Monem Zafar said several important municipal functions, including waste management and building control, had also been placed under provincial departments. He said this had reduced the responsibilities of elected local representatives.
Commenting on the performance of the provincial government, he compared the delay in completing the BRT Red Line project with the construction of the Grand Trunk Road by Sher Shah Suri centuries ago. He said repeated changes in the completion schedule had caused difficulties for a large number of Karachi residents.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Comments