Sindh Assembly Session. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on Thursday to give “ownership rights” to residents of Pakistan Quarters and Martian Quarters.
The resolution, moved by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) MPA Khawaja Izharul Hasan, was submitted in the wake of the Supreme Court’s directives to the local administration to evacuate the federal employees’ residences, which have been occupied illegally for years.
When the police had attempted to enter the locality to evict the residents, they met with stiff resistance, resulting in a face-off that left several injured. Later, the apex court extended the deadline to evacuate the federal government employee quarters by three months.
On Thursday, lawmakers from all parties in the Sindh Assembly supported the resolution to grant ownership rights to the residents.
“These people have been living in these quarters for four decades and the government is forcibly expelling them,” said Hasan, demanding the federal government to give ownership rights to the residents and submit a report to the Supreme Court. Lawmakers from all parties also condemned the government’s action against the residents.
Local government minister Saeed Ghani, while endorsing the resolution, said, “Our party believes in roti, kapra aur makaan, so we can’t even think of rendering these people homeless.”
What’s in a name?
In another resolution, the assembly condemned the federal government’s decision to rename Islamabad Airport and remove the name of former premier Benazir Bhutto from the official title of Benazir Bhutto Income Support Programme.
The resolution was moved by Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Marvi Rashdi. “Benazir has sacrificed her life for democratic dispensation and stood up for the rights of lesser mortals, including women. What kind of message are you giving by removing her name and changing the name of the airport from Benazir Bhutto International Airport to Islamabad International Airport?” she questioned.
The issue sparked a heated debate on the Assembly floor between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and PPP lawmakers. “We respect Benazir Bhutto who has sacrificed her life for this country,” said PTI’s Khurrum Sher Zaman. “No doubt, she was a towering personality, but PPP should come out of the pictures and slogans,” he said, besides criticising PPP leaders for failing to disclose the real culprits behind Benazir Bhutto’s murder.
“The Benazir Bhutto Income Support Programme has become completely politicized,” Zaman continued. “If you are so loyal to Benazir, why have you failed to apprehend her assassins in your own government? Today you have come up with the idea to continue flashing her picture. Tomorrow you will demand to place photos of Asif Ali Zardari,” he remarked.
This irked PPP MPAs. Minister for education and culture Syed Sardar Shah stood up to reply to Zaman. “Martyrs are always alive in heaven and on earth. They are not considered dead.” He then recited a poem to pay tribute to Benazir Bhutto.
Biometric system
Sindh education minister Syed Sardar Shah announced on the Assembly floor that his department will install the biometric system in schools across the province.
“Initially, we have done it in some areas. This has given us tangible results in terms of attendance of teachers and enrollment of students. We are now going to expand it across the province,” he said.
Responding to a call attention notice, he said, “Earlier, there were serious issues in the education department. The issue of ghost teachers was one of the biggest problems. We have now reduced it through the biometric system and by appointing monitors to review the teachers’ performance.”
Frere Hall
Shah also stressed the need to bring a resolution in the House to hand over Frere Hall to the provincial government. “Currently, this heritage building is under the control of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), which has spoilt it through neglect. Every other day, various programmes are being organised in its premises, resulting in damage to the state-of-the-art building,” he said. “There is a beautiful library which possess rare books too. We have to preserve this building and the library as well,” he added.
During the question-answer session, the minister said that his department had expressed serious concern when the city government, mayor and KMC organised events at the park, damaging its lawn and the building.
As the minister quoted the mayor’s name, MQM-P’s Khawaja Izhar stood up and said, “Please don’t bring the mayor in this issue.”
In response, the minister said, “I request Khawaja Izharul Hasan to please stop representing the mayor in this session.”
Ultimately, the speaker intervened, asking both the members to avoid a controversy and focus on the issues at hand. Later, the speaker adjourned the session till today (Friday).
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2018.
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