Debate on ‘new province’ mars PA session

Deputy speaker adjourns session citing ‘lack of quorum’

KARACHI:

The debate to abolish the National Assembly's special committee for the creation of new provinces in the country concluded with Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Rehana Leghari adjourning the session till Friday.

It began with opposition MPA Nand Kumar Goklani, who belongs to the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), moving a private resolution in the session against the special committee of the National Assembly mandated to look into constitutional amendments to carve out new provinces from the country. It was established following a massive campaign in favour of a separate province in south Punjab.

In his plea, Goklani said that the committee had a hidden agenda which was to create a new province in Sindh. "There are conspiracies being hatched against Sindh. A disgruntled PTI lawmaker who is going to join PPP in the coming days is playing into someone's hands," he said while naming MPA Ramesh Kumar. "This house has already rejected such nefarious designs to split Sindh into two parts. Time and again we have demanded to abolish the committee without any further delay," he said while moving the resolution.

Goklani, who has been parliamentary leader of his party in the assembly, referred to Sindh as his motherland in an emotional speech. "We are ready to sacrifice our lives, but will not allow anyone to create another province from Sindh," he said.

Instead of putting the resolution in the house for voting, the deputy speaker adjourned the session. "We can't continue the session over lack of quorum," she said

The opposition members from PTI, GDA and MQM protested over the deputy speaker's abrupt decision and demanded to finish the agenda, but all in vain.

It warrants mention that National Assembly Speaker Raja Parvez Asharf had formed the committee in December last year. It comprises members from different provinces who have been tasked to present a report on a bill for amendments to the relevant articles within thirty days.

Earlier, as the session started, PTI MPA Khurram Sher Zaman requested the deputy speaker to cover all the items on the agenda. "Today is private members day. We will appreciate it if you continue the session taking up all resolutions, adjournment motions, privilege motion and private bills. You always leave the agenda unfinished and adjourn the session," he said. "Where should we go? Can we approach the judiciary to finish the agenda?"

Zaman's remarks irked the deputy speaker who asked Zaman to revisit the rules of procedure of the Assembly.

She also ruled that lawmakers had not been serious in attending the session and the speaker or the deputy speaker had no option but to adjourn the session over lack of quorum.

During the debate, the opposition members shifted blame of the quorum to the government. "It's always the government's responsibility to bring one-fourth members of the total strength in the House."

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2023.