Sindh Assembly passes LG law amendment amid opposition protest, sloganeering

The Sindh Assembly on Monday passed the Sindh Local Government (LG) Act 2026 (Amendment) Bill by a majority vote amidst intense uproar and sloganeering as opposition members protested by tearing up copies of the bill.

Prior to tabling the bill, Sindh Home, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar presented the report of the special committee on the bill. As the law minister was presenting the report, opposition members created a loud commotion and uproar in the House, tearing up copies of the bill during their protest.

Amidst the opposition’s clamour, the House passed the Sindh LG Act 2026 by a majority vote, after which the Sindh Assembly session was adjourned until 3:00pm on Tuesday.

Several significant changes were introduced in the new amendment law. Under the Sindh LG Amendment Act 2026, the mayor would assume the powers of an administrator upon the expiration of the council’s term and according to the bill, outgoing representatives would continue to serve as administrators until the newly elected mayor or chairman assumed office.

Read: LG law tweaks sail through assembly

The law designated the deputy mayor or vice chairman as the convener of the council, empowering them to preside over meetings. Union Council (UC) chairmen would be required to identify illegal constructions and report them to the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA).

Additionally, a Conciliation Commission had been introduced in the Sindh LG Amendment Bill 2026, with a mandatory requirement for its formation within 90 days.

Opposition parties reject Sindh LG Bill 2026

Opposition parties strongly reacted to and rejected the Sindh LG Bill 2026 passed by the assembly, calling the amendment bill an act of “political dictatorship” and declaring it “hostile to democracy”. Opposition leaders also announced that they would raise their voices against this bill on every legal and political platform.

Read More: Amended LG bill sails through Sindh Assembly amid opposition uproar

Parliamentary members from Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) presented their stance to the media at the Sindh Assembly’s media corner. Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Ali Khurshidi stated that “political dictatorship” was prevailing in the assembly, noting that the bill was abruptly passed during the session, sidelining all other business.

Khurshidi asserted that political parties, both inside and outside the legislature, had rejected this bill. He remarked that on one side stood the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and on the other, the people of the entire province, adding that the provincial government had committed contempt of court regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling.

MQM-P MPA Iftikhar Alam stated that their position was ignored, despite the Supreme Court’s verdict mandating the devolution of powers to the grassroots level. Alam noted that they had protested within the committee and did so again in the House today, reiterating the MQM’s rejection of the bill.

PTI MPA Shabbir Qureshi condemned and rejected the local government bill and recalled that Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab was imposed upon them through horse-trading in 2023, adding that if these same people returned to power, suspicions of rigging would turn into certainty.

JI’s Muhammad Farooq stated that the new LG Act granted no powers to the chairman, whereas the Constitution vests authority in that office. Farooq added that following the 18th Amendment, the provincial government had retained all powers for itself, and the amendment he had proposed was disregarded. “This bill does not protect the people, and therefore, we reject it”.

Farooq further warned that under this amendment, political administrators would be appointed in the absence of elected representatives. He added that PTI, JI, and MQM had completely opposed the bill, adding that JI would challenge the bill in court because it was “anti-democratic”.