Sindh PA roof seeps during rain

As the heavy rains lashed Karachi on Tuesday, the opposition lawmakers who were attending Sindh Assembly session in newly constructed building suddenly started crying inside the session pointing towards the rainwater seeping through the roof. "Dekhein madam speaker, ye chhat gir jaege," (Look at it madam speaker, the roof will fall). Most of the members stood up at their seats and filmed the seepage and rainwater leaking from the roof.

"Billions of rupees haves been spent on this newly-constructed assembly building that was inaugurated seven to eight years ago. Its condition shows how Sindh government has bungled the public money," said PTI MPA Shahzad Qureshi.

Women MPAs sitting on the opposition benches started reciting the name of Allah. "Ya Allah Maaf karna. Ye Allah Khair."

Deputy speaker, Rehana Leghari who was presiding the session, responded to them saying, "Please don't be scared. The roof will not collapse. It is a minor problem. I have asked the secretary Sindh Assembly to look into it." Despite the speaker's assurance, the opposition members continued criticising the provincial government for constructing the building with sub-standard material.

Earlier, as the proceeding started, there was no electricity in the main hall where the lawmakers and speaker sit. The assembly staff started generators, the session kicked off with emotionally charged speeches of PPP MPAs against the "Operation Fair Play" that led to overthrow the then prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's government on July 5, 1977 with imposition of martial law in the country.

The debate started with Heer Ismail Soho of PPP who moved a resolution while condemning the martial law and lauding the services of Bhutto. The issue dominated the proceedings wherein not only treasury, but opposition members also spoke on it. "Shaheed Bhutto was the leader of international fame. We pay tribute to him for his services he rendered for Pakistan," Soho said adding that it was Bhutto who made the Pakistan atomic power and gave it the first unanimous constitution. "He set the precedence of true democratic dispensation. The credit goes to ZAB for whatever democratic values exist in Pakistan," she said.

Another PPP MPA, Saadia Javed termed the assassination of Bhutto as an international conspiracy and said, "After his death, the army dictator General Zia gave nothing, but klashnikove culture and drugs in Pakistan." She added, General Zia's policy incited the ethnic and linguistic riots under the divide and rule policy.

Firdous Shamim Naqvi of PTI supporting the resolution appreciated the services of Bhutto and said, "I saltue him for making us atomic power. No doubt, he gave us many things, but wonder why PPP deviated from his slogan of rooti, kapra aur makan."

Taking strong exception to the PPP government performance, he said, "Even after 50 years, the Bhutto's vision is a distance dream as current leadership of the party follows General Zia's philosophy to punish the opponent."

Naqvi then referred to last senate election which according to him was rigged by buying many senators to support PPP candidates.

Abdul Razzaque Rahimon of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), while endorsing Naqvi, appealed the PPP leaders to live up to Bhutto's vision and said.

Shamim Mumtaz of PPP gave the credit to ZAB for taking people to street for their rights. Criticising General Zia she said, "No one else, but Imran Khan is ghost of General Zia," she said.

Hina Dastaghir, former chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Sardar Shah of PPP and Arif Mustafa Jatoi of GDA also supported the resolution and spoke on the life of ZAB. Later, the deputy speaker adjourned the session to Friday.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2022.