Flouting the rules: Speaker’s ‘bias’ unites opposition against PPP

Durrani disregarded the majority vote against the govt bills in the assembly

KARACHI:

Opposition parties in the Sindh Assembly jointly tabled a 'censure motion' against Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani for flouting the rules of the House on Friday.

They also hinted at bringing a no-confidence motion against the chief minister and the speaker, accusing the latter of favouring his party.

The dispute over the Rangers' special powers may have intensified the tug of war between the treasury and opposition members but it hit a new high on Friday when the speaker allegedly breached the rules and procedures of the assembly. According to the opposition members, the speaker blatantly supported the government, giving the impression of being 'biased'.

The situation grew tense when the speaker took up the government's bills for introduction and standing committees' reports for approval. Most of the treasury benches at the time were empty as only 24 of the 91 PPP members were in attendance.

Meanwhile, the opposition had an obvious majority with the presence of 31 MPAs. During the voting, the "noes" had a clear majority over the "ayes" but the speaker chose to overlook the dissenting voices and gave his verdict in favour of the PPP's 'ayes'. This continued until the opposition made a hue and cry.

Opposition protests

"What are you doing here? Please stop behaving like the PPP activist here. You are the custodian of the House and supposed to run the session without discrimination. Don't violate the rules," said Sheharyar Mahar, of the Pakistan Muslim League - Functional, while waving a copy of the rules of procedure. Other opposition members also endorsed Mahar's view and protested against the speaker's conduct.

Durrani turned, however, a blind eye to them and continued to lay the audit reports in the House. This irked the opposition even more. Opposition leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan, who belongs to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), shouted: "Please look at the treasury benches. All the business presented by you has been rejected by our opposition members who are in a majority in this session.  If you don't trust us, please get the help of these video cameras installed inside the session and start re-counting."

During the uproar, almost all the opposition members gathered in front of the speaker's podium and tore the copies of the agenda.  Shouts of "No no, go go. Nahi chalegi nahi chalegi, ye gunda gardi nahee chaligi [This won't do, this bullying won't do]," echoed through the assembly hall.

Seemingly oblivious to the commotion, Durrani continued reading items on the agenda. The PPP members laughed and cracked jokes at the opposition's protest. When the situation became tensed, the speaker adjourned the session, saying: "You are trying to hijack the session by not allowing me to run the proceedings, therefore I adjourn the house to meet again on Tuesday," he said and left his chair.

Lazy day

Friday's session started on a curious note.  When the speaker entered the hall at around 10:30am, there was only one PPP MPA, Farhat Seemi, seated there.

The speaker, looking at the empty hall, went back without uttering a word. Soon after, a few PPP MPAs rushed to the hall and the speaker reappeared at 10:45am, when the session kicked off in the presence of only 16 members, mostly PPP lawmakers. He finished the question-answer session within five minutes as the opposition members were not present.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2015.