Govt accused of discrimination

Opposition and treasury benches exchanged verbal barbs over allegations of discrimination against urban population in government jobs and development funds during Sindh Assembly session on Friday. Muttahida Qaumi MovementPakistan (MQM-P) MPA Javeed Hanif in his budget speech criticized Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government for giving the opportunities only to people of rural Sindh and ignoring those from Karachi, the commercial hub and capital of the province.

Hanif became emotional and repeatedly used the term "Karachi and Sindh" as separate entities in the province. "They (provincial government) earn from Karachi and spend on Sindh," he said. On his remarks, Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani directed MQM MPA to, "Please do not use the words Karachi and Sindh again. You are creating a division here with bad intention."

Hanif instead of focusing on budget talked at length over discrimination in government jobs and distribution of development funds. "PPP has looted and plundered the resources making Karachi a city of garbage." He said that Sindh government has ignored Karachi in the budget giving no proper share in the development outlay that stands at Rs700 billion. The MQM-P MPA also criticised Sindh health and education departments. Regarding the recent local government and the mayoral elections he said, "the mandate that PPP got from Karachi is totally fake and based on manipulation."

He also criticised the government over the worst law and order situation especially the upsurge in street crime in the city. Taking the floor, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon termed Hanif's speech biased. "If PPP's mandate is fake, why did MQM-P boycotted the LG polls." Referring to division of Sindh, Sharjeel Memon said that Karachi is heart of Sindh no one can dare to carve out a new province from it. Regarding the law and order, Memon said, "there was time when we used to get the bodies in gunny bags and every other days there were strike calls in Karachi.

The situation is totally different now and we are heading towards peaceful life." He reminded the house of modern bus service and expansion of healthcare system. MQM-P MPA Khawaja Izhar questioned that if health services are ideal in Sindh, why PPP ministers and leaders go abroad for the treatment. Minister for Women Development Shehla Raza said that her department has established around 15 complaint cells for free legal aid to women in distress. Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan MPA Mufti Qasim Fakhri while speaking on the budget talked on the ghost teachers of the government schools who according to him get the salaries while living abroad.

He demanded to wave the utility bills of mosques operating in the province. "We talk on the solarization of schools and hospitals, but mosques are not yet being solarized," he said. Rana Hameer Singh, Faryal Talpur of PPP, Ali Khursheedi of MQM also spoke on the budget. Later, the speaker adjourned the session till Saturday