The session started at 11:38 am with Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza in chair. MQM’s Syed Sardar Ahmed raised the matter of fuel prices, poverty and inflation. “This is a democratic government that should facilitate the poor masses of the country. But unfortunately, [even] a common man earning Rs15,000 per month cannot properly feed his family.”
Referring to the recent State Bank report, Ahmed said that 40 per cent of the population is living below the poverty line, while during the previous government the figure was 34 per cent.
He announced the walkout on behalf of the MQM and other members of the Opposition, PML-Q and PML-F members, also followed suit. In response, the deputy speaker said that Syed Sardar Ahmed should have listened to the government’s version instead of the sudden walkout.
Local government minister Agha Siraj Durrani, finance minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Sharjeel Memon, Aisha Khoso and other MPAs said the price hike was a universal issue and the government is striving hard to cope with it. They expressed regret over MQM’s walkout, saying that the MQM is a coalition partner both at the Centre and Sindh, so it is equally responsible for all issues.
Later, PPP legislators including education minster Pir Mazharul Haq, fisheries minster Zahid Bhurgari and kachchi abadis minister Rafique Engineer went to the chambers of the MQM and other Opposition members to persuade them to end the boycott and join the session.
Nov 3 emergency
Provincial legislators condemned the November 3 imposition of emergency by former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, terming it “the blackest day in the history of Pakistan”.
Tourism minister Shazia Marri said she thought that the MQM members should have been sitting in session and condemning the step taken against democracy.
PPP MPAs said their leader Benazir Bhutto was in Dubai at the time but when she heard about the emergency, she returned home and faced many ordeals for the sake of the country.
Resolution passed
The Sindh Assembly passed a resolution on the protection of the rights of female domestic helpers and recommended that the campaign should be launched at the union-council level to register them to ensure their health and legal expenses are covered.
Women’s development minister Tauqeer Fatima Bhutto said the campaign will be initiated to manage their work timings and wages and fulfil the requirements of ILO Convention’s clause 177. No male MPA from the treasury or opposition benches participated in the discussion.
Motions deferred
A motion regarding the Government Bill No. 15 of 2010 was deferred to Friday on the request of provincial law minster Ayaz Soomro. Similarly, two other motions regarding the governor’s message on bill no. 21 of 2009, the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Shaheed Benazirabad and bill No. 24 of 2009, the People’s University of Medical and Health Sciences for Women, Shaheed Benazirabad were also deferred.
Power failure report
Standing Committee on Irrigation and Power chairman Arif Mustafa Jatoi presented a report on the massive power failure on June 17 and June 18 in the entire province. Copies of the 20-page report were distributed to all members, but it was not discussed during the session. Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza adjourned the session till Thursday.
Students visit Assembly
Students belonging to a study tour group visited the Sindh Assembly and peered at the ongoing session on Wednesday.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 4th, 2010.
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