No formal word yet on assembly dissolution, says Durrani

'Opposition leader Rana Ansar, CM Murad Ali Shah poised to engage in crucial consultations on the caretaker setup'

KARACHI:

While weighing on the speculation regarding the prime minister’s advice for the dissolution of the assemblies on August 9, Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani has said no official announcement has been forthcoming as yet.

Durrani was speaking to the media after appearing before an accountability court in connection with a corruption reference. He said that leader of the opposition Rana Ansar and leader of the house Murad Ali Shah are poised to engage in crucial consultations on the caretaker setup in the province following the dissolution of the provincial assembly.

Looking back at his own tenure, he revealed that he had commissioned a comprehensive report on the performance of MPAs over the last five years, capturing the essence of each member’s contributions during this period. While acknowledging their initial commendable performance, Durrani lamented that, over time, the vigor of the legislators waned.

Durrani emphasised the importance of a contingency plan, asserting that if the consultation between Shah and Ansar fails to yield results, a committee will be entrusted to address the situation. Should the committee encounter hurdles in reaching a consensus, the matter will be sent to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Durrani highlighted the constitutional provision that allows him to continue leading the assembly even while incarcerated, a testament to the complexity of the political landscape.

Earlier while appearing before the accountability court, Durrani, who faces allegations of amassing assets beyond his known means, remained resolute. NAB officials presented a progress report, scrutinising the assets in question.

During the hearing, eight defendants, including Gulbahar Lohar, were conspicuously absent. In response, the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for these eight individuals. The list of absentees, including Munawar Ali, Ghulam Murtaza, Shakeel Ahmed, Gulbahar Lohar, Syed Muhammad Shah, Meetha Khan, Tufail, and Muhammad Irfan, cast shadows on the proceedings.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2023.