Standing ovation: Lyari wins back sports fame in Sindh Assembly

Sindh lawmakers pass resolutions for better health facilities.

KARACHI: Lyari gained its sports fame back on Tuesday when the Sindh Assembly gave a standing ovation to the street footballers on their return from Brazil.

The 10 players were given a standing ovation by members of both the treasury and the opposition benches, followed by the national anthem. The players, wearing Sindhi topis and ajraks, showed victory signs and waved to the members as they sat in the governor's gallery. "A majority of the players belong to Lyari and its adjoining areas," said MPA Javed Nagori proudly. "These players have not only made the country proud but have proved that the people of Lyari should not be identified with the gang war alone." Nagori, who belongs to Lyari himself, became emotional as he urged his colleagues and the media to stop calling Lyari a 'safe haven' for criminals.

The football players entered the House along with Social Welfare Minister Rubina Qaimkhani and a member of Azad Foundation, an NGO, as the lawmakers hurried to congratulate them in person. Even though Tuesday was a private members' day, the MPAs allowed the speaker to defer the agenda and dedicate the proceedings to the team. The MPAs of all parties invited the players to visit their headquarters to celebrate the victory.

There were a lot of freebies for the players as well. Senior Education Minister Nisar Khuhro announced the players will be given free education until post-graduation while Information Minister Sharjeel Memon announced Rs200,000 for each player, along with a football stadium for the team. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Khurram Sher Zaman not only announced but also gave Rs10,000 to each player.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) Syed Sardar Ahmed appreciated the efforts of the social welfare department and Azad Foundation in helping the team participate in the world cup. "Before Partition, the people of Lyari played an important role in sports and made Sindh proud," he said.

Action against Rangers

The performance of Pakistan Rangers came under fire once again during the session, which started with speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in chair. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Mir Allah Bux Talpur raised the issue of the Rangers ‘ alleged attack on his family members in the Chachro area of Tharparkar district that left two of his nephews injured. "Who has given the Rangers a licence to kill innocent people?" he asked. One of his nephews, a former union council nazim, is in critical condition and has been moved to a hospital in Karachi. According to Talpur, the Rangers accused his nephews of illegal hunting. "Who gave the Rangers the authority to kill people while they are protecting their animals? It is the job of the wildlife department." Memon assured him that the issue will be probed and an FIR will be registered against the accused.

Better health facilities

The lawmakers also adopted a unanimous resolution to equip all government hospitals with the latest medical technologies and necessary life-saving drugs, fully equipped labs to provide basic health facilities to all the people in the province. The resolution was moved by MQM MPA Saifuddin Khalid.

"Spurious medicines and a lack of trained medical staff and equipments are major issues facing government hospitals," pointed out Pakistan Muslim League-Functional's Imtiaz Shaikh. He advised the government form boards at the local level to monitor the hospitals' affairs. Memon told him the government will form committees comprising professional doctors to monitor the procurement of medicines at public hospitals.

MPA Nand Kumar also tabled a resolution to end low gas pressure in Sanghar district. "Sindh is contributing 70 per cent of the national gas production but a majority of the province is deprived of this facility," said PPP's Dr Sikandar Mandhro.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2014.