Controversial move: Advisers to be appointed as chairpersons of technical board

Move comes a day after SHC nullifies appointment of law adviser

KARACHI: A day after the Sindh High Court (SHC) nullified the appointment of the chief minister's law adviser, the Sindh Assembly passed another controversial amendment to appoint advisers or special assistants as chairpersons of the National Vocational and Technical Education Training Commission board. The amendment was made in the Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority Bill.

Parliamentary Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro moved the bill but Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Syed Sardar Ahmed objected to it and said, "The Sindh High Court has yesterday given a verdict that no adviser or special assistant can hold [a] portfolio. So please avoid such kind of legislation, which create controversy with the court."

Khuhro said that there was no restriction on advisers and special assistants holding portfolios. "The Constitution gives us permission to appoint advisers and special assistants," he said, adding that the government has not yet received the court order and, therefore, will not withdraw the amendment.



Khuhro further said that the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government is being targeted and they will challenge the SHC decision in the apex court. Later, the bill was passed with majority votes.

Fire-fighting vehicles

During the session, which was chaired by Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, Opposition Leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan drew the house's attention towards irregularities in the procurement of a snorkel in Karachi. "The snorkel is being purchased at an estimated cost of Rs5.7 million. The actual cost of this snorkel is Rs3 million. I want to ask why so much money has been allocated for it," he said, referring to the price of a similar snorkel purchased by the Punjab government. He asked the government to initiate an inquiry into it and cancel the tender, which is being awarded next week.

Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro was of the view that it is was the responsibility of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to maintain fire tenders, which are in dilapidated condition. "There has been an MQM mayor in the city since the 1980s but no one has taken initiative to maintain these vehicles," he accused, requesting the opposition leader to monitor the upcoming tendering process, which, according to Shoro, is taking place in a transparent manner.

Water woes

During the question-and-answer session, members belonging to various parties raised the issue of drinking water shortage in their constituencies in Karachi and other districts of Sindh.

"What is the mechanism for water distribution?" asked Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Khurrum Sher Zaman. "In Karachi, people are suffering from potable water [shortage] and in the districts the growers are on strike against severe water crisis."

Khuhro responded that the government is trying to overcome the water crisis and has launched K-IV and other schemes for Karachi.

Pakistan Muslim League - Functional MPA Nusrat Seher Abbasi asked why 2014's questions were being answered in 2016. "We had asked these questions two years ago and they have now been included in the agenda," she said. "I want to ask when the ministers will give [answers to] the questions submitted this year in the assembly secretariat."

The speaker ordered the assembly secretary to look into the matter.

The Right to Information and Motor Vehicle (Amendment) bills, which were on the agenda, were deferred. The session was adjourned till Thursday.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2016.