Opposition requisitions Sindh Assembly session

Joint opposition in Sindh on Wednesday submitted requisition for convening a session to discuss Sindh Local Government Act following judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and reframe it in accordance with constitution and directive of the apex court.

The requisition- signed by 49 legislators of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and Grand Democratic Alliance- also sought discussion on the floor of the assembly on issues of Provincial Finance Commission, law and order situation, shortage of fertiliser and water, rising prices, land grabbing and illegal construction and worsening Covid-19 situation in Sindh.

Leader of the opposition in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh along with parliamentary leaders and MPAs of PTI and MQM-P submitted the requisition to secretary Sindh assembly. The agenda put forward by the joint apposition also included manhandling of protestors in Tando Allahyar and use of force against peaceful protestors in front of CM house.

Sheikh while addressing a joint press along with PTI parliamentary leader in Sindh Assembly Khurram Sherzaman, MQM-P parliamentary leader Kunwar Naveed Jamil, Muhammad Hussain Khan and Jamal Siddiqui said that after Supreme Court's judgment it has become inevitable to reframe the law governing local government system in Sindh with consultation and consensus of all the parliamentary parties of Sindh.

He said that Sindh Local Government Act 2013 and subsequent amendments were contravening to constitution of Pakistan and all the opposition parties were protesting against the law that deprived the LG bodies from their rights and authorities guaranteed by article 140-A of the constitution of Pakistan.

Read More: Amended LG bill sails through Sindh Assembly amid opposition uproar

Parliamentary leader of MQM-P Kunwar Naveed Jamil said that Sindh Assembly was not convened for the last two months and there were many issues to be discussed on the floor of the House. He said that Police and district administration mishandled the situation in Tando Allahyar where people were protesting against murder of a MQM-P worker in court premises. The police also resorted to torture against protestors in front of CM House in Karachi where MQM-P staged a sit in to protest against LG law, he said.

Parliamentary leader of PTI in Sindh Assembly Khurram Sherzaman said that PTI, MQM-P and GDA were at forefront in protests against SLGA 2013 while PSP and Jamaat Islami were playing role of friendly opposition.

He said that street crimes in Karachi had gone out of control as we see killing of people by criminals every day. Over 51,000 motorcyles, 54,238 mobile phones, and 26,000 vehicles were snatched or stolen during year 2021 in Karachi alone, he added.

MQM-P MPA Muhammad Hussain said that affairs of Sindh Assembly were being run in an autocratic manner and 69 members of opposition parties were not being allowed to play their constitutional role in the house.

He said that during last three and a half year not a single bill of opposition was not passed in the house while over 100 bills were not being laid in the house.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2022.