Seeking authority: PPP defeats bill to place Lyari Development Authority under mayor

MQM lawmakers said Constitution binds government to give powers to mayor

KARACHI:

The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Tuesday turned down a private bill to place the Lyari Development Authority under the control of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation mayor. At present, the local government minister is the authority’s chairman.

After the question-answer session, Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani gave the floor to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPAs Khalid Ahmed and Muhammad Kamran to introduce the Lyari Development Authority (Amendment) bill 2016.  Quoting Article 140-A of the Constitution, Ahmed said “The provincial government is bound to give financial and administrative powers to the mayor. As this authority falls under the city’s domain, please let me introduce the bill, which can be passed later.”

Opposing the bill, senior minister for parliamentary affairs, Nisar Khuhro, argued that all development authorities in Sindh are working under the local government (LG) minister. “Yesterday we revived the Karachi Development Authority after 14 years and put it under the LG minister’s control. We want to have a uniformed policy by placing all development authorities under the LG minister to avoid confusion,” he said.



After a brief argument, the speaker put the bill on the floor, which was defeated as the PPP had the majority votes. Later, a resolution moved by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Dr Seema Zia demanded that permanent resident and domicile certificates be computerised throughout Sindh. The resolution was passed unanimously.

Restaurants serving alcohol

The issue of alcohol being served at restaurants in Clifton was raised by PTI MPA Khurrum Sher Zaman who, moving a privilege motion, said “Last year, the then excise minister had assured me in this House that he would take action against the restaurants, but he is yet to do so.” He added that most restaurants in Clifton Block-4 continue to serve alcohol.



“Everyday people going there with their families witness the situation. The restaurants openly serve beer and liquor. If they don’t then people bring alcohol with them without any fear. I want to know who will take action [against the culprits],” he said, revealing that in his constituency some people have illegally opened wine shops in apartments where a large number of people come and go.



Excise and taxation minister Gyan Chand Israni said his department had taken action against a Korean restaurant serving alcohol, and an FIR had been registered against it. He assured the PTI MPA of looking into the issue raised by him.

PPP MPA Nadir Magsi endorsed Zaman’s viewpoint, saying “I have also witnessed this situation. This is really embarrassing, especially for those who visit these places with families.”

Sex education

During the session, MPAs from both the sides supported the idea of introducing sex education in government schools across the province. Moving the resolution, MQM MPA Naheed Begum called it “life skill based education” and said, “The government should introduce this in the curriculum of schools and colleges across Sindh,” adding that reproductive education is being taught to O and A level students in Pakistan. PPP MPAs, including Khairunissa Mughal, Shamim Mumtaz, and Nusrat Sultana also supported the idea. Meanwhile, MQM parliamentary leader Sardar Ahmed suggested the resolution be referred to the standing committee on education for experts’ feedback.

“This is an important issue and there proper homework should be done on it,” he suggested.

Khuhro, who is also the education minister, said they are ready to start the subject in schools but it will take some time. Later, the speaker adjourned the session till Friday.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd,  2016.