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MQM-P Demands Local Government Autonomy in 27th Constitutional Amendment
MQM-P calls for empowering local governments under the 27th Constitutional Amendment. Farooq Sattar says, “After provincial autonomy, local autonomy must come next.”
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-11-05
MQM-P Demands Local Government Autonomy in 27th Constitutional Amendment

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan (MQM-P) on Wednesday demanded that the upcoming 27th Constitutional Amendment include provisions ensuring autonomy for local governments across the country.

The call came a day after Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced that the proposed amendment — aimed at introducing key constitutional tweaks — would soon be presented before Parliament. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had earlier revealed several major features of the proposed changes, seeking broad political consensus on the legislation.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar, flanked by party convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, said that local government empowerment must be recognized as the next step in Pakistan’s democratic evolution.

“After provincial autonomy under the 18th Amendment, the next step naturally is local autonomy — so its turn must come,” Sattar stated.

He recalled that during discussions surrounding the 26th Amendment, MQM-P had also pushed for its “constitutional amendment package” to empower local bodies in accordance with its agreement with the PML-N. “But it did not happen,” Sattar lamented.

Sattar emphasized that Article 140A of the Constitution — which deals with the establishment of local governments — must be amended to clearly define the powers and responsibilities of local bodies so that their laws cannot contradict constitutional provisions.

Meanwhile, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, who also serves as the federal minister for education, elaborated on the broader constitutional context of the proposed changes.

“We are only discussing the key features presented to us. Even Article 243 — dealing with the command of the armed forces — must now be harmonised with national unity, strong defence, and modern requirements,” Siddiqui said.

He further proposed that local governments should be formally recognized as a distinct tier of governance under the Constitution, with guaranteed elections and fixed tenures for mayors and nazims — independent of executive interference.

“Local governments should be considered a government. The Constitution should decide that, and the Supreme Court should monitor it,” he asserted, suggesting a caretaker framework to oversee local governance transitions.

The MQM-P’s renewed push for local government autonomy comes as political negotiations intensify over the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which is expected to address issues related to military command structure, judicial reforms, and the possible creation of constitutional courts.

The party’s demand adds another layer to the evolving national debate on how power should be distributed between the federal, provincial, and local tiers of government — a key question since the landmark 18th Amendment of 2010.
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