Friday, 04 Sep, 2009

KARACHI: Attorney General of Pakistan, Sardar Latif Khosa has said that President Asif Ali Zardari has extended the deadline for Local Government System upto December 31.

However Spokesperson of President House, Farhat Ullah Babar has denied the reports of extension of deadline of LG System.

Latif Khosa while talking to Sindhi Media said that the deadline for LG System has been extended to give time to coalition partners to take decision on the future of the system.

Responding to a question, the Attorney General said that the 17th Amendment cannot be fully repealed, saying the National and Provincial Assemblies will be affected with the complete abolishment of the Amendment. He said that 17th Amendment has some good points.

Meanwhile, Spokesperson of President House in a statement declined any extension in the deadline for LBS, saying the Law Ministry would take a decision on the system.

Babar said that the statements of AG were presented in a wrong light. He said that the provinces are not independent in taking decisions on the LG System.

On the other hand, former Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Daniyal Aziz has welcomed the decision and termed it the first victory of supporters of that system.

The former Chairman NAB said that if there were some flaws in the system, they should be removed through talks but abolishing the entire system is not in the interest of the country.

He said that political parties including Jamaat-e-Islami, Muttahida Quami Movement supported the LGS and talks were underway with other political parties in this regard. -Online