Sindh assembly set to get its first female opposition leader
The Opposition in Sindh assembly has nominated PML-F's Nusrat Seher Abbasi for the vacant post of opposition leader.
KARACHI:
The opposition in the Sindh Assembly has nominated Nusrat Seher Abbasi as the leader of the Opposition in the house, on Friday.
The decision to nominate Abbasi was taken at a meeting of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) members in Karachi.
Abbasi, an advocate, has played a very active role in the Sindh Assembly, irrespective of sitting in the opposition or on the treasury benches. She will be the first lady being opposition leader in the history of Sindh, if government agrees to accept it.
Abbasi belongs to a middle class family and was born in Rohri. Her father Saleh Muhammad Sial was a social welfare officer at Rohri cement factory. She started her career as an advocate before joining PML-F. Since her father-in-law, Allah Bux Abbasi, was a close aide of Shah Murdan Shah (Late Pir Pagara), she was given the responsibility as PML-F Khairpur Mirs women’s wing president. Later the party decided to allot her the reserved MPA seat for women in the 2008 general election.
According to four years performance report of the Sindh Assembly, Abbasi is among the top three lawmakers in terms of legislation. She has moved many resolutions, raised points of orders, adjournment motions and tabled many bills on women and child rights among other issues currently plaguing Sindh.
Talking to The Express Tribune Nusat Seher Abbasi said that she would try her best to play the role of an effective opposition leader and would not succumb to the pressure of the government.
Briefing the media about their decisions, Syed Sadruddin Shah Rashdi, President PML-F, Sindh while appreciating the performance of Abbasi said, “I think Nusrat will be good option. Being an advocate and competent lady she can play effective role as opposition leader.” Rashidi added that Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (Likeminded) members had nominated Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim as opposition leader, but their request was turned down by speaker due to the former chief minister’s continued nonappearance in the house.
“Now, we have decided to bring our own candidate who will be acceptable to all opposition members in Sindh Assembly,” Rashdi said, adding that they would hold another meeting after Muharram to work out further line of action.
No alliances for PML-F in next elections
Earlier, the meeting of the party also decided that PML-F will not form an election alliance with any party, but would prefer seat to seat adjustment with different groups and parties in the next general elections.
The meeting, which was attended by elected and non-elected representatives of the party, was followed by a press conference.
On the occasion Imtiaz Shaikh, PML-F General Secretary, Sindh said that PPP has started pre-poll rigging by changing polling stations in their constituencies. He said they had already demanded the election commission to hold upcoming general election under the supervision of judiciary. “We request the government to alert army if situation gets out of control in next elections” he added.
Referring to other decisions that the party had taken at the meeting, Rashdi said all participants expressed concerned over new local government system and adopted a resolution against Kalabagh Dam, the issue which is once again being propagated and defended by some quarters.
The party said that they also discussed matters pertaining to rehabilitation of flood affected people.
The opposition in the Sindh Assembly has nominated Nusrat Seher Abbasi as the leader of the Opposition in the house, on Friday.
The decision to nominate Abbasi was taken at a meeting of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) members in Karachi.
Abbasi, an advocate, has played a very active role in the Sindh Assembly, irrespective of sitting in the opposition or on the treasury benches. She will be the first lady being opposition leader in the history of Sindh, if government agrees to accept it.
Abbasi belongs to a middle class family and was born in Rohri. Her father Saleh Muhammad Sial was a social welfare officer at Rohri cement factory. She started her career as an advocate before joining PML-F. Since her father-in-law, Allah Bux Abbasi, was a close aide of Shah Murdan Shah (Late Pir Pagara), she was given the responsibility as PML-F Khairpur Mirs women’s wing president. Later the party decided to allot her the reserved MPA seat for women in the 2008 general election.
According to four years performance report of the Sindh Assembly, Abbasi is among the top three lawmakers in terms of legislation. She has moved many resolutions, raised points of orders, adjournment motions and tabled many bills on women and child rights among other issues currently plaguing Sindh.
Talking to The Express Tribune Nusat Seher Abbasi said that she would try her best to play the role of an effective opposition leader and would not succumb to the pressure of the government.
Briefing the media about their decisions, Syed Sadruddin Shah Rashdi, President PML-F, Sindh while appreciating the performance of Abbasi said, “I think Nusrat will be good option. Being an advocate and competent lady she can play effective role as opposition leader.” Rashidi added that Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (Likeminded) members had nominated Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim as opposition leader, but their request was turned down by speaker due to the former chief minister’s continued nonappearance in the house.
“Now, we have decided to bring our own candidate who will be acceptable to all opposition members in Sindh Assembly,” Rashdi said, adding that they would hold another meeting after Muharram to work out further line of action.
No alliances for PML-F in next elections
Earlier, the meeting of the party also decided that PML-F will not form an election alliance with any party, but would prefer seat to seat adjustment with different groups and parties in the next general elections.
The meeting, which was attended by elected and non-elected representatives of the party, was followed by a press conference.
On the occasion Imtiaz Shaikh, PML-F General Secretary, Sindh said that PPP has started pre-poll rigging by changing polling stations in their constituencies. He said they had already demanded the election commission to hold upcoming general election under the supervision of judiciary. “We request the government to alert army if situation gets out of control in next elections” he added.
Referring to other decisions that the party had taken at the meeting, Rashdi said all participants expressed concerned over new local government system and adopted a resolution against Kalabagh Dam, the issue which is once again being propagated and defended by some quarters.
The party said that they also discussed matters pertaining to rehabilitation of flood affected people.