Budget discussion sidelined as opposition, treasury engage in ‘politics of vendetta’

Treasury, opposition benches take to criticising the other's party leadership and policies

KARACHI: For the second day in a row, lawmakers of the Sindh Assembly partook in 'politics of vendetta' on Tuesday as they criticised each other instead of engaging in a proper discussion on the budget.

Around 27 MPAs from the treasury and opposition benches spoke in the post-budget session but each speech was focused primarily on censuring the other's party leadership and policies. As a result, the proceedings were dominated by debate on non-issues.

As soon as the session commenced with Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in the chair, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Sidra Imran accused the Sindh government of awarding contracts of River Osmosis (RO) plants in Thar to a company owned by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari.

"Sindh government keeps criticising the federal government for not releasing funds. In this budget, around Rs835 billion are estimated to be given in federal transfers".

Mangla Sharma of Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan (MQM-P) raised the issue of 'forced conversions' in the House. Speaker Durrani asked her to divert her attention to the budget. "This is a post-budget session. Please set aside other issues and speak on the budget," he said.

Sharma, however, continued to give her speech condemning forced conversions, "By celebrating Holi and Diwali, Bilawal Bhutto is sending the message that he and his party are champions for the rights of minorities, but his activities are just ceremonial," she said, adding, "He has not taken up our issue of forced conversions seriously."

The MQM-P MPA demanded the Sindh government to bring a law against forced conversions and take action against extremist elements who force individuals to convert.

Moazzam Abbasi of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), criticised the PPP government for its failure to clear the dues of sugarcane growers and said, "Naudero Sugar Mill is owned by the Omni group. The growers are on strike for the past two months, but all in vain."

He added that the PPP chairperson travels in a luxury vehicle costing Rs60 million. "All outstanding dues of protesting growers can be cleared if Bilawal sells his vehicles and pays this amount."

His remarks against Faryal Talpur irked PPP MPAs, who started protesting. Abbasi said, "All bureaucrats share the commission with Adi Faryal. No one can work without giving a share to her."

Kulsoom Chandio of PPP, however, raised the issue of Imran Khan's recent visit to Saudi Arabia with his spouse and her ex-husband.

He said, "We salute Khan Sahib for taking Bushra Bibi's ex-husband with him to perform Umrah. Is this happening in Riyasat-e-Madina?"

The PTI MPAs became emotional on Chandio's remarks and starting creating pandemonium in the House.  After a brief lull, the speaker took control of the situation and the proceedings continued.

MQM-P's Shahana Ashar said that the PPP government had left the citizens of Karachi at the mercy of the tanker mafia. He expressed displeasure with the public service commission's process for induction of civil service officers and said, "Mostly, the kith and kin of officers working in public services commission and government are appointed on various positions."

Sadhumal Surender Valasai of PPP drew the attention of the House towards inflation in the country and said, "All credit goes to the PTI government which has created an economic disorder in Pakistan."

Nasim Rajpar of GDA, Adeeba Arif of PTI, Riaz Shah Shirazi of PPP and Rashid Khilji of MQM-P also spoke at the session. The session was later adjourned till today (Wednesday).

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2019.