Resolution passed: Speaker suggests FIRs against power utility

KARACHI:

The assembly adopted four resolutions on Tuesday.  The first was moved by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA Sabir Qaimkhani who demanded to set up a campus of Sindh University at Old Campus Model School, Hyderabad. After a brief discussion, the resolution was adopted unanimously. PPP MPA Ghazala Siyal moved another resolution criticising power utility companies and demanded the federal government to stop unannounced load-shedding in Sindh. MQM lawmaker Khalid Ahmed diverted the attention of the House towards K-Electric’s failure to supply power to Karachi. “They are sending excessive bills. The management of the power utility company should be summoned here,” he said.  The speaker also suggested lodging FIRs against power companies for their failure to supply electricity and generating extra bills. The assembly also passed a resolution on the import, sale and purchase of beetal nut and gutka in the entire province. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Dr Seema Zia had moved the resolution. During the session, PML-F MPA Nand Kumar moved a resolution to permanently declare Holi, Dewali and Easter as public holidays for minorities in the province and allow for advance salaries be paid to non-Muslim employees a few days before the events. The resolution was also passed unanimously.

The assembly turned down PML-F’s Mohammad Rashid Shah’s resolution which called for issuing MPAs with over a dozen arms licences of prohibited and non-prohibited bore every month. Later, the speaker adjourned the session till Friday.

Earlier, as the session started at around 11am, the speaker administrated oath to newly-elected MQM MPA Faisal Rafique, who won the recent by-election from PS-115.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th,  2016.