Law passed to resurrect SPSC

House condemns blasphemous remarks of BJP officials against the Holy Prophet (PBUH)

KARACHI:

After one year's controversy over the performance and subsequent Sindh High Court circuit bench Hyderabad decision to suspend Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) Act 1989, Sindh Assembly on Monday passed the law to repeal and re-enact the commission with new rules and regulations.

"We are making the law in the light of a court decision. Now, it will be called Sindh Public Service Commission Act 2022," Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon while presenting the in assembly said. The decision was taken after a large number of complaints against the Sindh Public Service Commission for its involvement in corruption, nepotism and favoritism in the appointment of competitive exams.

"The government will remove the chairperson of the commission or its members following the allegations of corruption, favoritism and by reason of physical and mental incapability," the law said adding that Sindh governor on the advice of chief minister shall appoint the chairperson of the commission while the members would be directly appointed by chief minister himself. "No government employee or person who exceeds the 65 years age limit can be appointed in the commission," the law said adding that no extension in job would be given to any person be it chairperson for member.

"At least one each member shall be a woman and from minorities," the law said. Earlier, as the bill was moved, the PTI and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) members protested over it demanding defer the law. "The bill is not on the agenda and is being passed in haste. We want to read it," Khurrum Sher Zaman of Pakistan Tahreek e Inaf (PTI) said. The same remarks came from Nursat Seher Abbasi of GDA. " The bill is very important. How can we read, make amendments or pass it in a short span of time? Abbasi said.

Setting aside the opposition members' reservations, the deputy speaker put the bill in the house for voting, which was passed with majority votes of ruling, PPP.

Resolution to cut diplomatic ties with India

Sindh Assembly on Monday passed unanimous resolutions, asking the federal government to cut diplomatic ties with India and oust its high commissioner over Bhartia Jantiya Party's (BJP) leaders' blasphemous remarks against the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).

Suspending all its business, the provincial assembly took exception to the BJP leaders' remarks as the members from both sides of the aisle moved identical resolutions. Muhammad Hussain Khan of MQM-P, Khurram Sher Zaman of PTI, MMA's Syed Abdul Rasheed, Nusrat Sehar Abbasi of GDA and Sadia Javed of PPP tabled the resolutions. Deputy Speaker Rehana Leghari clubbed all the resolutions, demanding the federal government to raise voice at the United Nations as well as the OIC.

"The House condemns the recent derogatory remarks against the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) and Islam by two senior officials of ruling BJP. The blasphemous statements were a deliberate attempt to provoke a communal agitation and offend the Muslims of India and beyond. To millions of Muslims around the world, the sanctity of the beloved Prophet (PBUH) precedes all and any attempt to willfully breach this sanctity will invite sharp response from Muslims across the world," one of the resolutions read.

The lawmakers demanded the provincial government to approach the federal government for lodging a strong protest with High Commission of India and press the Indian authorities to take strict legal action against those members.

"The House further demands that the Provincial Government approach the Federal Government to urge the OIC members to take cognizance of the matter and take it up jointly in the General Assembly and other appropriate forums to condemn India's disregard to religious minorities," the resolution read.

Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said, "Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had already taken up the matter at the OIC."

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2022.