Ignoring the courts: Assembly passes bill allowing deputation of contract employees
Opposition term it a black law, PPP MPAs say some workers are competent.
KARACHI:
Despite Sindh High Court’s decision against the deputation of contract workers and a pending case before the Supreme Court, the Sindh Assembly still passed the Sindh Civil Servants (regularisation of absorption) Bill 2011 amid opposition derision.
The bill was moved by Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro who in his remarks argued that since officials on deputation working in government departments have a vast experience and are highly competent, certain employees can be absorbed in government departments. “We are bringing this law in the public interest,” he said justifying the action.
Members of the opposition, belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), opposed the bill and termed it a “black law”. But the speaker told the opposition to convince the house before levelling allegations against the bill.
PML-F’s Marvi Rashdi said the bill was being brought just to appease some officers who belong to different government- and semi-government-run institutions, including the Sui Southern Gas Company, Pakistan International Airlines and other corporations and departments.
“The absorption of these outsiders will create unrest among government officials,” she said, adding that it was an anti-Sindh decision. “When the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was in the opposition, they used to talk against deputation, contracts and absorption. But now they are violating the law. I assure you that people from every nook and corner of Sindh will reject the law that will be a blot on the face of democracy.”
Razzaque Rahmo of the PML-Q said the Sindh High Court had already given its verdict against these officials on contract and the case was sub judice in the Supreme Court. “We should at least wait for the apex court’s decision,” he said.
But Rafique Engineer, the PPP Minister for Katchi Abadis, rebutted: “These people had promulgated the Legal Framework Order (LFO) during Musharraf’s tenure and introduced the Voluntary Retirement Scheme, which proved to be against the labour class.” He counter-accused the PML-F and PML-Q: “They supported dictators who made rubber stamp assemblies. I wonder why these people are talking about democracy and merit.”
Speaker Nisar Khuhro intervened and said that assemblies and parliaments were legislative forums where laws were made on any issue. “This is a more important forum that the courts,” he said. Later, the bill was passed while the opposition shouted slogans against it.
Kidnapping of MQM MPA
As the session started, MQM members drew the house’s attention towards the kidnapping of their MPA Aleemur Rehman who was abducted a few days ago and later released. They said that despite the assurance by Law Minister Ayaz Soomro, no action was taken against the people nominated in the FIR. The law minister once again assured them that the people will be arrested and an impartial inquiry will be conducted. But most MQM members stood up and said, “We need to see progress,” Dr Sagheer Ahmed demanded.
Ayaz Soomro replied that they had written letters to the Sindh IGP and the Karachi CCPO to expedite the inquiry. But MQM MPAs warned that they would protest and walk out of the session.
Bills introduced
During the session, the Thar Coal and Energy Bill and the Sindh Hotel and Restaurants Bill 2011 were also introduced.
The session was adjourned till Tuesday.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 7th, 2011.
Despite Sindh High Court’s decision against the deputation of contract workers and a pending case before the Supreme Court, the Sindh Assembly still passed the Sindh Civil Servants (regularisation of absorption) Bill 2011 amid opposition derision.
The bill was moved by Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro who in his remarks argued that since officials on deputation working in government departments have a vast experience and are highly competent, certain employees can be absorbed in government departments. “We are bringing this law in the public interest,” he said justifying the action.
Members of the opposition, belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), opposed the bill and termed it a “black law”. But the speaker told the opposition to convince the house before levelling allegations against the bill.
PML-F’s Marvi Rashdi said the bill was being brought just to appease some officers who belong to different government- and semi-government-run institutions, including the Sui Southern Gas Company, Pakistan International Airlines and other corporations and departments.
“The absorption of these outsiders will create unrest among government officials,” she said, adding that it was an anti-Sindh decision. “When the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was in the opposition, they used to talk against deputation, contracts and absorption. But now they are violating the law. I assure you that people from every nook and corner of Sindh will reject the law that will be a blot on the face of democracy.”
Razzaque Rahmo of the PML-Q said the Sindh High Court had already given its verdict against these officials on contract and the case was sub judice in the Supreme Court. “We should at least wait for the apex court’s decision,” he said.
But Rafique Engineer, the PPP Minister for Katchi Abadis, rebutted: “These people had promulgated the Legal Framework Order (LFO) during Musharraf’s tenure and introduced the Voluntary Retirement Scheme, which proved to be against the labour class.” He counter-accused the PML-F and PML-Q: “They supported dictators who made rubber stamp assemblies. I wonder why these people are talking about democracy and merit.”
Speaker Nisar Khuhro intervened and said that assemblies and parliaments were legislative forums where laws were made on any issue. “This is a more important forum that the courts,” he said. Later, the bill was passed while the opposition shouted slogans against it.
Kidnapping of MQM MPA
As the session started, MQM members drew the house’s attention towards the kidnapping of their MPA Aleemur Rehman who was abducted a few days ago and later released. They said that despite the assurance by Law Minister Ayaz Soomro, no action was taken against the people nominated in the FIR. The law minister once again assured them that the people will be arrested and an impartial inquiry will be conducted. But most MQM members stood up and said, “We need to see progress,” Dr Sagheer Ahmed demanded.
Ayaz Soomro replied that they had written letters to the Sindh IGP and the Karachi CCPO to expedite the inquiry. But MQM MPAs warned that they would protest and walk out of the session.
Bills introduced
During the session, the Thar Coal and Energy Bill and the Sindh Hotel and Restaurants Bill 2011 were also introduced.
The session was adjourned till Tuesday.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 7th, 2011.