Lawmakers get personal as barbs fly in Assembly
Saeed Ghani claims he transferred PTI MPA's brother from KDA because he was drinking at work
Children carry water cans to their homes in Martin Quarters on Friday. Citizens have been forced to bear the brunt of water shortages as the water mafia continues to steal water from illegal hydrants set up across the city. PHOTO: ONLINE
KARACHI:
Legislative assemblies are supposed to debate public-interest issues and make laws to regulate the functions of the government and ensure public service delivery. The Sindh Assembly, which is currently in its longest-running session ever, seems to have missed the memo. Its lawmakers seem to be only interested in political point-scoring and undermining the opposing side, with little discussion emerging on the pressing issues faced by citizens.
Friday's sitting was no different, with the opposition and the treasury benches engaging in a war of words that soon turned personal. The triggering point this time was Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) MPA Jamal Siddiqui's speech, in which he leveled serious allegations against Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani. The former accused Ghani of receiving kickbacks worth around Rs21 billion per year to allow the operation of illegal hydrants across the city.
Siddiqui, who won the provincial assembly seat from PS-106 East, while moving the call-attention notice, reminded that he had raised the issue in the current sitting on February 4 and the LG minister had assured to take action. "The hydrant mafia has now expanded their business by opening two other hydrants and is supplying the water to the industrial area," he claimed. "We investigated the matter and came to know that the hydrants were running with the approval of the LG minister," he said, adding that each hydrant paid Rs2.7 million a month to Ghani.
Protests mar Sindh Assembly proceedings
"This is a lucrative business. The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and the minister are receiving around Rs21 billion from hydrants in various areas of the city," he said, adding that since the month of Ramazan is approaching and there will be a water crisis in the city, the government must take steps against the mafia.
The LG Minister refuted all the allegations. "Put a curse on me if I have ever taken a single penny from any hydrant in Sindh," he yelled. "If it is not proved, then I put a curse on those who level such allegations against me."
According to Ghani, there was a different reason why such allegations were being leveled against him. "Your brother, Samiuddin Siddiqui was working under me as director-general of the Karachi Development Authority," he pointed at Jamal. "Ask him how much money I have taken from him."
In response, Siddiqui asked, "Then why did you remove him from the post?"
Ghani said, "I removed him because he used to drink in the office. I don't need alcoholics who drink whiskey 24 hours."
The LG minister continued that he did not have any objection with anyone drinking on their own time, but he would take action if an officer drank at work.
Incensed at the LG minister's remarks, PTI lawmakers started to protest and asked Ghani to apologise for his words. Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani asked Ghani to refrain from leveling personal allegations.
Responding to the speaker, Ghani said, "I am responding to them. They have accused me of running illegal hydrants and receiving Rs21 billion in kickbacks. I have asked them to show me a single hydrant, but they have failed to do it."
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was also sitting in the session. The PTI MPAs approached the speaker's podium and continued to protest. "You people have taken the lead by accusing him. He has just responded," said the speaker.
Terming the speaker's actions biased, the PTI lawmakers walked out of the session, announcing that they wouldn't take part in the proceedings until Ghani tendered an apology.
After they left the session, Ghani again stood up and said, "I want to give an explanation on this issue." He referred to his meetings with KDA DG Samidduin Siddiqui and said, "I had received a number of complaints against him. In a meeting, he was sitting next to me. During our conversation, I noticed his mouth smelt foul. I asked my officials to warn him to avoid drinking in the office, but all in vain. Even then, I did not suspend him, but transferred him from the KDA office."
Ghani went on to say that Jamal Siddiqui was taking revenge for his brother's transfer. "I am a political worker and started my career from the grass roots level," he said. "I can tender an apology, but first they should take their words back."
In Sindh Assembly, PPP MPAs snub attempts to roll back 18th Amendment
18th Amendment
Meanwhile, the ruling, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmakers continued the debate against federal government's alleged intentions to roll back the 18th Amendment for the second consecutive day. Shehla Raza, Ghanwar Isran, Marvi Rashdi, Shazia Omer, Munawar Wassan and Raja Razzaq criticised the federal government, especially the Prime Minister's statement regarding the 18th Amendment. "After the 18th Amendment, the provincial governments have been given more powers. But they want to snatch these powers, which is not possible," said Omer.
Wassan referred to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who promulgated the 1973 Constitution and said, "The 18th Amendment was passed with the consent of all political parties in Pakistan. Two-third majority is required in Parliament to bulldoze it. Despite their efforts, the PTI government can't do it," he said, adding that the statements of the Prime Minister and the opposition leader of the Sindh Assembly against the 18th Amendment were condemnable.
MMA's Abdul Rashid said that there was always a need to bring amendments in laws to improve them, but no one could roll back the 18th Amendment.
At the end, the speaker announced that the discussion would continue on Monday, when the CM would speak on the issue.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2019.
Legislative assemblies are supposed to debate public-interest issues and make laws to regulate the functions of the government and ensure public service delivery. The Sindh Assembly, which is currently in its longest-running session ever, seems to have missed the memo. Its lawmakers seem to be only interested in political point-scoring and undermining the opposing side, with little discussion emerging on the pressing issues faced by citizens.
Friday's sitting was no different, with the opposition and the treasury benches engaging in a war of words that soon turned personal. The triggering point this time was Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) MPA Jamal Siddiqui's speech, in which he leveled serious allegations against Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani. The former accused Ghani of receiving kickbacks worth around Rs21 billion per year to allow the operation of illegal hydrants across the city.
Siddiqui, who won the provincial assembly seat from PS-106 East, while moving the call-attention notice, reminded that he had raised the issue in the current sitting on February 4 and the LG minister had assured to take action. "The hydrant mafia has now expanded their business by opening two other hydrants and is supplying the water to the industrial area," he claimed. "We investigated the matter and came to know that the hydrants were running with the approval of the LG minister," he said, adding that each hydrant paid Rs2.7 million a month to Ghani.
Protests mar Sindh Assembly proceedings
"This is a lucrative business. The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and the minister are receiving around Rs21 billion from hydrants in various areas of the city," he said, adding that since the month of Ramazan is approaching and there will be a water crisis in the city, the government must take steps against the mafia.
The LG Minister refuted all the allegations. "Put a curse on me if I have ever taken a single penny from any hydrant in Sindh," he yelled. "If it is not proved, then I put a curse on those who level such allegations against me."
According to Ghani, there was a different reason why such allegations were being leveled against him. "Your brother, Samiuddin Siddiqui was working under me as director-general of the Karachi Development Authority," he pointed at Jamal. "Ask him how much money I have taken from him."
In response, Siddiqui asked, "Then why did you remove him from the post?"
Ghani said, "I removed him because he used to drink in the office. I don't need alcoholics who drink whiskey 24 hours."
The LG minister continued that he did not have any objection with anyone drinking on their own time, but he would take action if an officer drank at work.
Incensed at the LG minister's remarks, PTI lawmakers started to protest and asked Ghani to apologise for his words. Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani asked Ghani to refrain from leveling personal allegations.
Responding to the speaker, Ghani said, "I am responding to them. They have accused me of running illegal hydrants and receiving Rs21 billion in kickbacks. I have asked them to show me a single hydrant, but they have failed to do it."
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was also sitting in the session. The PTI MPAs approached the speaker's podium and continued to protest. "You people have taken the lead by accusing him. He has just responded," said the speaker.
Terming the speaker's actions biased, the PTI lawmakers walked out of the session, announcing that they wouldn't take part in the proceedings until Ghani tendered an apology.
After they left the session, Ghani again stood up and said, "I want to give an explanation on this issue." He referred to his meetings with KDA DG Samidduin Siddiqui and said, "I had received a number of complaints against him. In a meeting, he was sitting next to me. During our conversation, I noticed his mouth smelt foul. I asked my officials to warn him to avoid drinking in the office, but all in vain. Even then, I did not suspend him, but transferred him from the KDA office."
Ghani went on to say that Jamal Siddiqui was taking revenge for his brother's transfer. "I am a political worker and started my career from the grass roots level," he said. "I can tender an apology, but first they should take their words back."
In Sindh Assembly, PPP MPAs snub attempts to roll back 18th Amendment
18th Amendment
Meanwhile, the ruling, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmakers continued the debate against federal government's alleged intentions to roll back the 18th Amendment for the second consecutive day. Shehla Raza, Ghanwar Isran, Marvi Rashdi, Shazia Omer, Munawar Wassan and Raja Razzaq criticised the federal government, especially the Prime Minister's statement regarding the 18th Amendment. "After the 18th Amendment, the provincial governments have been given more powers. But they want to snatch these powers, which is not possible," said Omer.
Wassan referred to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who promulgated the 1973 Constitution and said, "The 18th Amendment was passed with the consent of all political parties in Pakistan. Two-third majority is required in Parliament to bulldoze it. Despite their efforts, the PTI government can't do it," he said, adding that the statements of the Prime Minister and the opposition leader of the Sindh Assembly against the 18th Amendment were condemnable.
MMA's Abdul Rashid said that there was always a need to bring amendments in laws to improve them, but no one could roll back the 18th Amendment.
At the end, the speaker announced that the discussion would continue on Monday, when the CM would speak on the issue.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2019.