The resolution said that the president was elected by securing 481 votes — 71 per cent of the electoral college — from the four provincial assemblies, the Senate and the National Assembly. “His role as the PPP co-chairman and the president of the country is essential to forge unity among the nation and bolster reconciliation among democratic forces,” read the resolution.
Soomro added that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the PPP founder, and Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah also had dual offices.
Supporting the resolution, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said the president’s government had reinforced cooperation among all coalition partners for the resolution of Sindh’s issues in particular and Pakistan in general.
He said the party was not deterred by opposition from a few parties. “We take the opposition as healthy competition in politics.”
Syed Sardar Ahmed, the MQM parliamentary leader, supporting the resolution appreciated the role of Asif Ali Zardari as PPP co-chairman and the president. Leader of the Opposition Jam Madad Ali also lauded the reconciliation policy being followed by the president. “We have earlier voted for Zardari Sahab and we express confidence and trust in the president [even] now,” he said. Masroor Jatoi of the National Peoples Party (NPP) also supported the resolution.
Adjournment motion on gas load-shedding
During the session, NPP MPA Arif Mustafa Jatoi moved an adjournment motion under rule 71 of the provincial assembly on gas load-shedding. He said that Sindh contributes 71 per cent of total production of natural gas and under article of 158 of the constitution, the province producing gas has precedence over its use before supplying it to other provinces.
In his response, the chief minister said that the matter was sub judice and therefore, debate cannot be initiated during the session. However, he mentioned that the federal government has distributed gas on need basis and after the abolition of the concurrent list, the provinces will have equal partnership on natural resources.
Later, the Speaker giving his ruling said that the move was out of order and the adjournment motion was rejected.
Regulation and Control of Disposable Syringes Bill
The assembly unanimously passed the Sindh Regulation and Control of Disposable Syringes Bill as law to regulate and control the use of disposable syringes.
Briefing about the importance of the bill, Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed said that before this, there was no law to regulate the manufacture, sale and use of disposable syringes that are endangering human lives.
He said that communicable diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis are rising in Sindh and reused syringes are the main cause of the spread.
PPP’s Munawar Ali Abbasi said the legislation is necessary, but implementation of the law has always been a problem. He suggested that a heavy penalty be imposed along with the registering of attempt-to-murder cases against doctors and paramedical staff who reuse syringes.
Arrest of doctors
Dr Sagheer Ahmed raised the issue of doctors who were arrested by the Gulberg police. He said that the police’s act should be condemned and he demanded the release of the doctors without delay. Responding to the health minister’s concerns, Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza said these doctors were nominated in two death cases of patients due to alleged negligence. He said that the police have arrested the doctors on orders of the court.
Assent of bills
Speaker Khuhro announced that the Governor of Sindh has given assent to the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Bill 2010, the Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences for Women Bill, 2009 and the Zulfiqarabad Benazirabad Bill 2010.
Meanwhile, the submission of the report on tabling the Sindh Ministers, Advisers, Special Assistants and MPAs Salaries, Allowances and Privileges (Amendment) Bill 2010 was deferred till next Wednesday and the date for presenting reports on standing committees and privilege motions was extended till the next session. The Sindh Assembly session was adjourned till Thursday (today).
Published in The Express Tribune, January 13th, 2011.
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