New Sindh Assembly session begins with squabbles, no resolution on jirgas
Sindh lawmakers bickered, stood up, shouted and pointed fingers at each other during the Sindh Assembly’s first session of the fourth parliamentary year on Monday.
The bone of contention was an ‘academic’ matter. Pakistan Muslim League’s (PML-F) Nusrat Seher Abbasi wanted to move a resolution, as soon as the session started at 10:20 am, to pay tribute to late scholar Nabi Bux Baloch.
However, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Shazia Marri interrupted her. “The content of the resolution has been copied from a newspaper and we cannot accept copy culture in the assembly.”
Chaos ensued. “You people are also involved in copy culture. Check your degrees first. Everyone gets support from the internet. So what’s wrong if I did?” Abbasi lashed out. “We know your competency.” Marri shot back: “And we know how intelligent you are.”
Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said the PPP members also wanted to move a resolution on Dr Baloch. He suggested a joint resolution.
Leader of the Opposition PML-F MPA Jam Madad Ali said there was nothing wrong with using words from a newspaper report in a resolution. In the end the house unanimously adopted one.
Sang Chatti
Nusrat Seher Abbasi also raised the issue of Sang Chatti (woman as penalty). Twelve girls were given in marriage to resolve a murder case near Pannu Aqil on Thursday. Despite the ban on jirgas, influential people still hold them under the supervision of government officials, the MPA said. “Where is the writ of government?”
But the law and the senior education minister defended the government. The chief minister had taken notice of it and ordered action, they rebutted.
The PPP ministers criticised the previous government instead. “The PML-F was part of former chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim’s government and used to hold jirgas in circuit houses (residences for government officials) and now you are criticising us.”
Target killing debate
Government lawmakers did not allow an opposition member to start debate on target killing. PML-F’s Marvi Rashdi had submitted an adjournment motion a few days ago. But the speaker said the adjournment motion was against the rules. Rashdi persisted. She said she had followed all the rules and was ready to explain why the adjournment motion should be accepted. Target killings are a recent, important and specific issue, she said. “It is not anticipation, but a definite matter. It is neither personal nor hypothetical. It is not sub judice either. A solution is not necessary through a resolution so we can adjourn other proceedings of the session today and can discuss the matter.” The Sindh home minister is on leave, people are living in fear and the government is not doing anything, Rashdi added.
However, Information Minister Sharjeel Memon insisted the matter was sub judice and therefore could not be discussed. Pir Mazharul Haq said many cases of kidnapping for ransom had been reported across Sindh, but PML-F members had not mentioned a single word in their adjournment motion. “You are sitting on the opposition benches but are part of this coalition government and so you are equally responsible for the good things and the bad.”
But Rashdi did not budge. “No one can stop me from debating this issue.” She cited the Constitution to prove her point.
Later, the speaker asked the government to present a report on target killings and assured Marvi Rashdi that the issue will be debated on Tuesday (today).
Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2011.
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