Durrani hints at denotifying absent PTI lawmakers

As most of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, fearing arrest, remained absent from the Sindh Assembly, Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani hinted at denotifying them and suggested to elect a new Leader of the Opposition. "You can elect a new Leader of the Opposition if Haleem Adil Shaikh does not show up," said the speaker while addressing the opposition lawmakers present in the house. 

The situation took a dramatic turn in the Sindh Assembly on Wednesday when the speaker called a few PTI members' names to ask the supplementary questions listed on the agenda. "The PTI members have been absent since May 9," Secretary Sindh Assembly informed the speaker.

Durrani said, "Then the PTI members should be de-notified." He asked the MQM, GDA members sitting on the opposition benches to evolve consensus and elect new opposition leader. There were a total 30 members of the PTI in the house of whom Abdul Kareem Gabol and Shaharyar Khan Shar already left the party two years ago rendering the current strength of PTI to 28 in the house that comprises 168 members. After a few minutes debate on it, the speaker asked the 'disgruntled' PTI MPA Abdul Kareem Ghabool to play the role as acting Leader of the Opposition, till the opposition parties make a final decision.

Gabool initially avoided taking the seat, but on the speaker's repeated offer he did. The speaker said, "I am the custodian of this house and can allot the seat to any member."

After his remarks, Gabool went to the Leader of the Opposition seat and said, "Sir, aap ka jo hukum (as you order)."  The speaker asked the treasury and opposition members to welcome the acting leader of the opposition who can now address the session from the coveted seat.

In his speech, Gabool was of the view that he would play the role of Leader of the Opposition if all his colleagues elect him. He condemned the violence and attack on Corps Commander's house and GHQ.

He said, "The country cannot run if we weaken our forces. It was a conspiracy hatched to make the army controversial and feeble," Gabool remarked. He demanded strict action against the suspects involved in this scenario.

During the session, the speaker also rejected the leave applications of three PTI members who had sent the same to the assembly secretariat.

Earlier, as the session started, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon expressed dismay over the election commission's delaying tactics in announcing the schedule for the oath to the local body members who won in the first phase of the polls a year ago. The opposition members also moved the call attention notices on various issues.  Nand Kumar Goklani in his call attention notice, drew the attention of the house towards the hundreds of RO plants worth billions of rupees that were setup in various districts of the province to purify the water. "Around 1,300 water plants were installed across Sindh. The Sindh government and PPP leadership also claimed to have established Asia's largest RO Plant in Thar, but all are lying non-functional," he said.

LG Minister Nasir Shah said all water schemes and RO plants would be revived. Later, the house was adjourned till Friday.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2023.