KARACHI:
The ambitious Zulfikarabad City project is turning into another contentious issue causing a division in the rank and file of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party in Sindh.
Sindh Culture Minister Sassui Palijo on Saturday walked out of cabinet meeting as she was not allowed to speak about the concerns and reservations of the people who are likely to suffer on account of this project.
Though the meeting, which was chaired by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, approved a proposal to ink an agreement with a Chinese company for the development of the project, Sassui Palijo argued that thousands of acres of land earlier allotted to the local people have been cancelled in the name of development.
Sources privy to the meeting told The Express Tribune that as the chief minister briefed the cabinet about President Zardari’s directives to approve the development plan of the proposed city, Palijo stood up and said that the local people have reservations on the project.
As the CM continued with his briefing, Sassui Palijo interrupted asking the cabinet members to listen to her viewpoint. She said “there has been criticism on Mohabbat-e-Sindh rally. The government says had the Awami Tehreek taken a permission to organize the event, the administration would have averted the attack on it. I want to know whether our government has got the consent of the local people who are being displaced and their land allotments have been cancelled.”
The tirade of Palijo irked ministers belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. Raza Haroon drew the attention of the chief minister and said: “We are discussing the development of Zulfikarabad, why the culture minister is linking this to the attack on the Awami Tehreek rally and Mohajir province. This is not on the agenda. ”
As Qaim Ali Shah did not lend his ears to her pleadings, Palijo walked out of the cabinet meeting in protest. Later talking to The Express Tribune, Palijo said: “I am an elected representative of the area. During the meeting, I tried to convey the grievances of local people to the CM and other cabinet members, but the CM did not give me the permission to speak on the issue. I have therefore boycotted the meeting.”
However, provincial Information Minister Shazia Atta Marri at her briefing refuted the claim of Palijo. She said that Sassui Palijo was constantly interrupting the chief minister while he was briefing the meeting. “Palijo was given full time and she expressed her reservations as well. But interrupting the chief minister during his speech is against ethics,” she added.
Job quota for women
Shazia Marri in her briefing said that the cabinet meeting also decided to allot 25 per cent quota bfor women in government jobs. She clarified that jobs in all government departments will be given outside merit quota. “The decision has been taken on the directives of President Zardari,” she said.
The information minister said that earlier five per cent quota was allocated for women. Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has said that Sassui Palijo’s portfolio will be taken away from her as disciplinary action for walking out of the Sindh Cabinet meeting. He was talking to reporters at the house of Senator Mian Raza Rabbani for condolence on the death of his father on Saturday. “Sassui has violated rules at cabinet meeting,” he said. “We will take action against her by taking back her portfolio for a while. We will call her to explain her behaviour at another meeting.” The government issued a notification withdrawing the culture ministry from Palijo on Saturday night.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 3rd, 2012.
Clarification: The MQM has denied that one its ministers made any comments on this issue to the chief minister. Raza Haroon was not in the room when this discussion took place as he had stepped out for consultations with his senior minister therefore his being quoted as making comments to the chief minister on the issue is out of the question. The error is regretted. – Editor
COMMENTS (12)
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Sassui walked out based on purly disciplinary basis, otherwise if she is against the project that means she is not helping people in the area to get to a better life. It is crime to stop development of the remote areas where the top leadership have concieved to help. For God sake accept the better change and do not stick to the status quo. Go and visit the area and see iron hand of poverty in this modern time. See where the world is going and see our areas where we are still stuck to division and racism. No change will come if we avoid accepting development. Please educate yourself Miss Sassui, and know what is offered. Self Ego should not take over your good personality. Thanks
Sassui Palijo has been relinquished from her duties as Minister for Culture, please assign her the portfolio of Minister for AGRICULTURE. She is competent enough to handle this job.
Sindh Fankar Welfare Trust, a representative organization of Singers and drama artists strongly condemns the decision of Sindh government and demands to restore the culture minister otherwise all T.V artists and folk singers (fankars) will come on roads to protest against removal of Sassui Palijo who has worked hard for promoting Sindhi Culture and welfare of Fankars.
Hameed Bhutto
Chairman Sindh Fankar Welfare Trust
I met her in London when she was doing bar at law. I wondered to know that she had done graduation (MBBS) from SMC and later came to London for law degree. But it was totally utter surprise when she was elected time time MPA in 2002 from Thatta. She is really brave woman who fought with Sherazis, an influential family of Thatta when PPP was in opposition.
The leadership of the party should revisit the decision and restore his portfolio. Otherwise, this kind of decision will put PPP in bad name in Sindh.
she was activist of sindhyani tahreek, a women wing of her uncle rasool bux palijo"s party before benazir bhutto nominated her to contest election. but still she seems to be active in nationalist politics. the recent attack on awami tahreek rally led by her cousin ayaz latif palijo has created more gulf between sassui and other ppp members. specially a few women mpas of her party have started lobbying against her.
Shamocracy.
she now should start nationalist politics
So what if an elected member while intervening the CM has voiced for the rights of her/his voters. The democratic values can only promote with healthy criticism and difference of opinion. we are really shocked to see this so called democracy. This is dictatorship in the name of democracy. THIS IS SHAM DEMOCRACY
Is this democracy in our country ? A cabinet minister has been fired over her reaction on a project which has displaced people in the name of development. Very strange!