KARACHI: LG RESOLUTION LEAVES MUCH TO BE RESOLVED.

C O N F I D E N T I A L KARACHI 000042

SIPDIS

REF: KARACHI 40

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2020
TAGS: PGOV PTER PK

SUBJECT: KARACHI: LG RESOLUTION LEAVES MUCH TO BE RESOLVED.

Classified by: Consul General Stephen G. Fakan, Reasons 1.4 b and d


1. (U) SUMMARY: Concluding an internal deadlock, the Sindh
Assembly tabled the Sindh Local Government (Amendment) Bill on
February 15, 2010. After many heated exchanges, negotiations and a
delay of nearly a year, the amendment received unanimous support for
Chief Minister appointed 'Administrators' to look after local
government affairs until party based elections are held within a
stipulated 120 days. Post gauged reaction among contacts including
now Ex-Nazim, Syed Mustafa Kamal. The resolution addresses the tip
of a local governance iceberg and will require further amendment
prior to implementation for it to be a workable solution. END SUMMARY

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SINDH LG AMENDMENT
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2. (U) The unanimously agreed upon amendment charges the Chief
Minister with appointing 'Administrators' from among the grade 17 -
19 civil servants corps to take over all duties and power of the
Nazims until elections are complete. Unlike the current Nazims, the
'Administrators' will answer directly to the Chief Minister and are
not answerable to an elected council. Syed Mustafa Kamal, ex-Nazim
of Karachi as of February 15, noted that there is an oral agreement
to have the 'Administrators' answer to the Governor, but this is not
mandated by constitution. PPP holds a list of MQM's preferred
'Administrators' for key cities, and according to Kamal, District
Coordinating Officer, Fazlur Rehman, who, despite MQM affiliation, is
also sometimes called "Durrani's blue-eyed boy" and may be the
Karachi appointee (Note: Agha Siraj Durrani (PPP),Sindh Minister of
Local Government took Fazlur Rehman as his protege when Rehman served
as Commissioner of Karachi. Rehman has also worked closely with
ex-Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal (MQM) and presents an interesting choice
for 'Administrator' as a suitable leadership compromise for both
leading parties).

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HOW THE TIMELINE SHOULD LOOK
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3. (U) The Governor signed the Bill on February 16 and it is
possible that the 'Administrators' will be appointed within this
week. Within the next 30 days, the provincial government must
formally request the elections commission to prepare for elections.
In the 30 days following, candidates must submit their names to the
commission for scrutiny and approval. Campaigning can only begin
after the final candidate list is released, likely in mid-April. In
a conversation with Durrani (PPP) on February 12, PolOffs were told,
with some confidence, that a resolution would be reached on February
15 (which happened) and that elections would be held on May 25.

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WHY IT PROBABLY WON'T
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4. (C) COMMENT: The resolution raises more challenges than it
addresses. An amendment on the very nature of the electoral process
is outstanding; PPP wants a direct election with constituents voting
for both their local councilors and the Nazim while MQM wants the
constituent-elected councilors to elect a Nazim from the community.


5. (C) The opposition is now vocally complaining that they were
left out of the lengthy deliberations and is requesting to be taken
into confidence onwards. Although Jam Madad Ali, leader of the
combined opposition, vows full cooperation for the good of Sindh,
they have the power to divide votes and create an electoral imbalance
if they choose to retaliate.


6. (C) Targeted killings and political violence may uptick as
Sindh prepares for party based elections - although all parties
appear to want to participate and no boycotts are expected, this new
and still vague electoral process leads post to believe that while
Durrani's joyful ideal that February 15 was "one of the greatest days
in the history of Sindh", it remains to be seen what the optic will
be on May 25. END COMMENT.

FAKAN