PA panel to probe child's death in sewer

LG minister says devising mechanism to prevent theft of gutter lids

KARACHI:

The death of three-year-old Ibrahim in a manhole echoed in Sindh Assembly with the Local Government minister saying, "the cries of the grief-stricken mother have shaken everyone's conscience."

Speaking on the floor of the House, LG Minister Nasir Hussain Shah said Ibrahim's death in manhole at Nipa saddened every person with a compassionate heart.

He said an investigative committee comprising the representatives present in the Sindh Assembly is being constituted. "Some reports regarding the Nipa tragedy have been received, but we are not satisfied with them," he told the Speaker.

Shah assured that strict action will be taken against whoever was found responsible. "We will try our best to ensure that no mother loses her child in the future. A mechanism is being developed to prevent the theft of manhole covers." Similar incidents have occurred in the past as well, but no permanent solution was implemented, due to which such tragic incidents continue to occur repeatedly.

Speaker rejects motion against e-challan

The Sindh Assembly greenlit several opposition-sponsored resolutions, though a Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) motion regarding the new e-challan system of the traffic police was struck down by the speaker, who ruled the matter is sub judice and ordered all related remarks expunged from the record.

Sharjeel Memon said e-challans were essential for road safety. He said helmet use, lane discipline, and respect for one-way rules were hallmarks of civilised societies. "No civilised nation permits persistent violations of traffic laws," he remarked.

During the Private Members' Day on Tuesday, gas load-shedding in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, took the centre stage as MQM-P lawmaker Aamir Siddiqui moved a resolution condemning persistent gas shortages in the metropolis. The government supported the motion, which was later amended to extend its scope to the entire province and subsequently adopted unanimously.

MPA Siddiqui accused the SSGC of providing Rs14 billion to Karachi's town administrations "yet leaving roads unrepaired." He urged the chief minister to raise the matter at the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon backed the resolution, calling the crisis a province-wide challenge. PPP legislators Ghulam Qadir Chandio and Jamil Soomro also urged widening the resolution's applicability to all of Sindh.

MQM-P's Rashid Khan cited severe shortages in Hyderabad near the Tando Alam gas field, while PTI's Shabbir Qureshi demanded the temporary closure of CNG stations to divert gas to households. MQM-P's Sabir Qaimkhani argued that Sindh, which contributes 27% of Pakistan's natural gas, must be guaranteed its fair share.

Provincial Minister Jam Khan Shoro informed the House that Sindh produces roughly 2,000 mmcfd but at times receives only 900 mmcfd. The House passed the resolution unanimously.

The assembly also approved MQM-P MPA Farah Sohail's resolution calling for enhanced skills training for women. Women Development Minister Shahira Shahid Ali told the House that her department, in collaboration with Toyota, was providing technical training to women-including inmates and shelter home residents. PPP's Saadia Javed and MQM-P's Kiran Masood also voiced support.

MQM-P's Sabir Qaimkhani raised a privilege motion complaining that an earlier resolution regarding Hyderabad's Niaz Stadium had not been implemented. Sharjeel said Sindh govt would take up the matter with the Pakistan Cricket Board to restore international cricket at the venue.