PA rejects resolution for student union polls

Parliamentary affairs minister says provincial govt already working on the matter

KARACHI:

The Sindh Assembly on Tuesday rejected a resolution tabled by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) MPA Muhammad Farooq, calling for the immediate holding of student union elections.

The resolution invoked the constitutional and democratic rights of students and urged compliance with the 1973 Constitution.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ziaullah Hasan Lanjar opposed the resolution, arguing that the government was already working on the matter. He reaffirmed the PPP support for student union elections which, according to him, is a part of the party's manifesto. He pointed out that the Sindh government had already lifted the ban on student unions; therefore, the resolution was unnecessary. Subsequently, the house rejected the resolution by a majority vote.

While expressing disappointment, JI's Muhammad Farooq criticised the government for not holding student union elections despite lifting the ban three years ago. "The champions of democracy are supporting a ban imposed by authoritarian regimes, which is shameful," he lamented.

On the other hand, the house unanimously passed a resolution tabled by PPP MPA Heer Soho, urging the federal government to prioritise funding for development projects in Sindh. The resolution highlighted the need to expedite ongoing schemes, particularly road projects linked to the M-9 Motorway.

Minister Lanjar supported the resolution, criticising the poor quality of infrastructure and highlighting the importance of the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway. "Traveling from Karachi to Sukkur by road is challenging. Inflation has made air and rail travel inaccessible, and the federal government must address this," he stated.

Lanjar also accused the federal government of neglecting Sindh's needs. "People accuse us of inaction, but they don't realise that the federal government is withholding funds for critical projects," he said.

Heer Soho pointed out that while several development schemes were allocated for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, Sindh only received six. She cited a formal letter sent by the Sindh chief minister on January 13, demanding federal attention.

Senior PPP leader Nisar Khuhro also voiced frustration over the exclusion of key Sindh projects from national development plans, including the M-9 Motorway from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He criticised delays in the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway and Karachi Circular Railway, calling for immediate action to prevent further economic setbacks.

Khuhro highlighted the importance of Sindh to Pakistan's economy. "Sindh is the backbone of this country's prosperity, yet we are ignored when it comes to development funding," he said.

In the end, Speaker Owais Qadir Shah took strict notice of ministers' low attendance. "Ministers must ensure their presence in future sessions," he directed. Minister Lanjar assured the speaker of conveying the directive to his colleagues.

The session was adjourned until Friday morning.

While speaking to the media after the session, JI's Farooq accused the PPP of hypocrisy, saying: "The PPP claims to be a champion of democracy, but it is unwilling to hold student union elections."

Joining the criticism, MQM-Pakistan MPA Engineer Muhammad Usman also accused the Sindh government of systematically dismissing opposition-proposed resolutions. "Today, Farooq's resolution on student union elections was rejected, like all other opposition resolutions. The MQM-Pakistan has a clear stance: we demand immediate elections for student unions. Students have the right to elect their representatives, irrespective of the organizations they support," Usman added.