Islamabad: During a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Pakistan called for more authority to be granted to local governments under the 27th Constitutional Amendment. A 7-member MQM delegation, led by party convener Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, met the Prime Minister at his official residence.
The MQM delegation included key figures such as Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori, Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, and National Assembly members Dr. Farooq Sattar, Javed Hanif Khan, Syed Amin-ul-Haq, and Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan. During the discussions, MQM leaders emphasized the importance of providing local governments with increased powers to improve governance at the municipal level.
According to sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured the MQM delegation that their recommendations for local government reforms would be incorporated into the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The MQM also sought to ensure that the amendments, backed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), would be reflected in the final version of the constitutional changes.
After the meeting, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori briefed the media, stating that Prime Minister Sharif had fully briefed the delegation on the 27th Constitutional Amendment. He confirmed that in-depth consultations had been held about the local government provisions within the amendment.
MQM sources indicated that the inclusion of their proposal for stronger local government powers could only be realized with the complete backing of the PML-N, and securing this support remains a top priority for the party. The government coalition is preparing to present the 27th Constitutional Amendment to Parliament, with expectations that it will be passed by both houses later this month.
If MQM’s demands are approved, it could pave the way for greater decentralization of power, potentially enhancing local governance and the delivery of services in urban areas, ultimately benefiting the public.
