Sindh Assembly session: Proceedings marred by rowdyism

Mayhem began when PTI MPA Tahira Batool was not allowed to present her resolution

KARACHI: These days, Sindh Assembly sessions are marked with rowdy behaviour of legislators. The session on Monday that resumed after four days once again saw protests, exchange of hot words and brawls.

The mayhem began when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Tahira Batool was not allowed by the Deputy Speaker Rehana Laghari to present her resolution pertaining to the Ramsha Wasan case before the resolution of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Zulfiqar Shah, who had already been given permission to speak.

Members on the opposition benches rose to protest and started shouting slogans. The deputy speaker lamented that the opposition members were not following the rules of the House. She said, "They unreasonably create a mess".

Parliamentary leader of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) Hasnain Mirza while addressing the deputy speaker said that she had children as did he and as such she should deal with the opposition as a mother would.

Laghari reminded him that she had not stopped anyone, adding that the opposition should let the business of the House finish and then present their resolution.

To which, Mirza reminded her that the House can suspend its routine business if a key issue was being discussed. At this point, members of the treasury and the opposition engaged in a heated exchange of words while thumping their desks.

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Coming down hard at the opposition, PPP's Munawar Wasan said that the image of the House was being purposefully and maliciously tarnished. The opposition continued to shout slogans against the provincial government and stood on their seats.

Amid the protest, Shah presented his motion pertaining to overbilling of Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) in Mirpur Khas. During the chaos, Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani directed the members of the opposition to remain silent and return to their seats, but in vain.

The opposition members also shouted slogans demanding justice for Ramsha Wasan.

Opposition leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi said that the killing of an innocent human being was of paramount significance adding that a discussion was needed for incidents like Model Town tragedy, Sahiwal incident and the brutal murder of a girl in Khairpur. The assembly should prioritise discussion on human issues.

Amidst the chaos, the speaker adjourned the session till Thursday, February 7.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2019.