A matter of privilege: Pir Mazharul Haq gets on the defensive

Marvi Rashdi says she would resign if it came to it but would not retract the stance she has taken.

KARACHI:

Senior Education and Literacy Minister Pir Mazharul Haq has filed a privilege motion against Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) MPA Marvi Rashdi for levelling what he claims are false allegations regarding the appointment of his wife in the Sindh education department.

While the motion has been referred to a committee on rules and procedure, Rashdi says she “will never apologise.” She told reporters that she would resign if it came to it but would not retract the stance she has taken. “I have no personal interest in the matter. This is an issue for the people.”

The issue was brought up in the Sindh Assembly on Friday, April 27 when Rashdi railed against the appointment. At the time, PPP ministers Murad Ali Shah and Ayaz Soomro had lashed out at Rashdi for her remarks. Haq is also the PPP parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly.

The exchange of retorts continued outside the assembly on Friday, where Rashdi elaborated on her comments. Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri had defended the appointment and offered several rebukes to Rashdi.

Those arguments weren’t forgotten over the weekend. The PML-F’s parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly Jam Madad Ali apologised for any hurt caused to Pir Mazharul Haq. However, Haq asked that Rashdi apologise as well otherwise he would be filing a privilege motion.

A piqued Jam Madad Ali also asked that if the PPP did not want to deal with the PML-F anymore - “we know you don’t like us” - they should ask PPP co-chairperson and President Asif Ali Zardari to ask PML-F head Pir Pagaro VIII to abandon the policy of reconciliation. He also condemned the criticism directed by Marri for the late Pir Pagaro VII after the assembly session on Friday.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2012.