In session: PPP minister upset speaker refused to allow resolution against MQM chief

Sindh Assembly's Tuesday session marked with screams and shouts.

KARACHI: Senior minister Nisar Khuhro was upset that Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani did not allow the resolution against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief to be passed during Monday's session.

"Opposition parties have blamed you for not allowing them to bring a resolution on the remarks made by MQM chief Altaf Hussain against the armed forces and [demanding a] division of Sindh," said an emotionally charged Khuhro during the assembly session on Tuesday.

He pointed out how the opposition parties told the media that their resolution was dismissed as it was 'out of order'. "I fail to understand why they have not tabled another resolution today," he said, adding that the opposition is neither sincere with the army nor the people of Sindh and only "want to get cheap publicity".

Khuhro's speech irked members of the opposition. "The speaker never allowed us to move the resolution that was why we protested and walked out of the session," said Pakistan Muslim League-Functional's (PML-F) Shaharyar Mahar. Khuhro pointed out that the PML-F has failed to raise this issue in the National Assembly and the Senate. The PML-F, PML-Nawaz and the MQM cannot defend the rights of Sindh but it is the PPP leaders who have rendered sacrifices for their mother land and democracy, he added.

The speaker intervened to calm down both the treasury and the opposition members but failed to succeed. Mahar even waved a copy of the assembly rules but Durrani interrupted him. "Please stop showing me this copy that you had once torn," he said. "Action has yet to be taken against you." It took Durrani nearly 30 minutes to regain control over the proceedings.

But when MQM's Muhammad Hussain moved a resolution against water shortage in Karachi and local government minister Sharjeel Memon requested to speak on it, another pandemonium ensued. "We have moved an adjournment motion on the same topic and request the local government minister to please speak on it on Friday not today," said MQM's Syed Sardar Ahmed.

Memon insisted he wanted to give a policy statement on the water shortage. After getting permission from the speaker, he referred to a statement by MQM leader Farooq Sattar in which he had said that, "Sharjeel Memon tuchi harkateen karta hai [Sharjeel Memon resorts to cheap tactics]." Memon felt the statement was made because he took action against illegal marriage halls and ghost employees in the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.

No work, all play

Tuesday was not a productive session for the lawmakers as not a single bill or resolution was passed, even though there were several on the agenda. These included the Sindh Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill, The Barret Hodgson International University at Karachi Bill and resolutions on the implementation of biometric attendance system in Sindh government departments for transparency, ban on the manufacture, import and sale of plastic gun toys, and action against illegal seminaries and illegal jirgas to settle disputes.

Stealing food

The Sindh Assembly was informed that food department officials are involved in stealing wheat worth millions of rupees every year.  During the question-answer session, food minister Gayan Chand Israni shared details of his employees against whom cases were registered. "A food inspector has stolen wheat worth Rs90 million and we have registered an FIR against him," he said.

When the minister's attention was diverted toward an employee who was booked for wheat theft in 2003 and has now managed to get the same post in the food department, Israni said that some employees received stay orders from the court, which is why the government cannot take action against them.

Israni claimed that 180 of the 201 flour mills in the province are functional. Around 354 food inspectors are working in all districts of Sindh, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2015.