Govt derides opposition for ‘harassing’ public servants

Opposition leader says he had only visited transport dept to seek information on projects

KARACHI: Pandemonium reigned in the Sindh Assembly on Friday as the opposition and treasury benches traded barbs over alleged interference in each other’s affairs.

The uproar erupted as the transport minister, Owais Qadir Shah, lambasted the opposition leader, Firdous Shamim Naqvi, for harassing public servants and interfering in their official duties.

“Mr Speaker, I want to raise an important issue in this House about the leader of the opposition, who visited various government offices a few days ago and humiliated transport and mass transit officials,” said Shah. Referring to the assembly rules, he said that no elected representative could enter government offices without prior intimation and then “humiliate and threaten employees with dire consequences.”



Incensed at the accusations, Naqvi, who represents the joint opposition in the Sindh Assembly, stood up and attempted to clarify his position. “I visited the transport department to find out about Karachi’s buses, especially the Green Line, Blue Line and Red Line projects. I have not threatened any official,” he said, before directing his tirade at the provincial government. “You have looted and plundered Sindh’s resources and the people of this city are suffering a traffic mess.”

This in turn irked Pakistan Peoples Party ministers and lawmakers. Mukesh Kumar Chawla, the excise and taxation minister and Owais Qadir stood up to protest Naqvi’s remarks. “The Green Line and Red Line are federal-funded projects. Sindh has nothing to do with it. Please suggest your government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to expedite and finish the BRT project in Peshawar. The project is yet to see the light of the day even after its cost has jumped from Rs20 billion to Rs70b,” said Owais Shah.

While the allegations flew both ways, Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani attempted to console the members. “The minister is ready to brief the House about these issues. If you have any confusion, please contact him. We have drafted rules and must follow them.” After the minister’s assurance, the opposition members went back to their seats.

But the truce was short-lived. Paksitan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Dr Seema Zia moved a privilege motion against the security staff of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) for not allowing her to visit the hospital.

“When we visited the hospital, the security personnel on duty denied our entry. I showed them my MPA ID, but they misbehaved with me and my colleague. I request this House to summon the NICVD staff and take action against them.”

PPP’s Chawla, while defending his government, said, “I once again refer the members’ attention to the rules and procedures. Please inform the management of any government department or hospital before going to any facility,” he said, before assuring that the government would look into the matter.

The opposition members, however, refused to be placated with mere assurances and demanded swift action. “Security and staff of NICVD has breached the privilege of a member of this House. Government must take action,” said Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s Khawaja Izharul Hasan.

Local Government minister Saeed Ghani too jumped into the fray. “We cannot take action until an inquiry report is furnished. We are giving assurance for action, so please let the inquiry be initiated.”

The speaker echoed Ghani’s stance. “The government has not yet formed the privilege committee and opposition members must stop their protest following the assurances about an inquiry into the matter.”

Ruet-e-Hilal Committee 

The Sindh Assembly passed on Friday a unanimous resolution to authorise the parliament to enact a law to regulate matters relating to the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.

The resolution was moved by Works and Services and Prisons minister Nasir Shah. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “After the 18 Amendment, it is the provincial government’s prerogative to make laws. The Parliament has no power to enact it, unless one or more provincial assemblies pass a resolution to authorise it. So we are giving these powers for legislation in Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to Parliament.”



Journalists’ protest

Earlier, as the session started, journalists covering the Sindh Assembly session protested against the intrusion of armed personnel in the Karachi Press Club on Thursday night.

Carrying placards and banners, the journalists demanded that the perpetrators be arrested. Several PPP ministers, including the chief minister’s advisor on information, Murtaza Wahab, went to the press gallery and assured the protesting journalists that their issues would be resolved.

The Assembly also passed a resolution to pay tribute to national poet and philosopher, Allama Iqbal. The resolution was moved by education minister Sardar Shah. Later, the speaker adjourned the session till Monday.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2018.