Uproar expected as opposition accuses PPP of rigging by-polls

Lawmakers are also expected to nominate Nusrat Sehar Abbasi as opposition leader.

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly is all set to witness uproar on Thursday as government and opposition legislators clash with each other over the outcome of the PS-21 by-elections in Naushero Feroze on Tuesday.

The pre-game show has already been hijacked by the opposition, which has accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led government of having engaged in “historic rigging” to propel its candidate, Sarfaraz Shah, to victory.

Speaker Nisar Khuhro will chair the session where lawmakers of opposition parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, and the National Peoples Party (NPP) are expected to air their grievances with the ruling PPP for all to hear. “We witnessed the state machinery being used against our candidates. As legislators, it is our right to expose the government’s bad intentions,” said PML-F leader Jam Madad Ali.

He added that the opposition is going to nominate PML-F’s Nusrat Sehar Abbasi, after Governor had accepted resignations of opposition ministers. The seat is vacant since the last one and a half year. “We will hold a joint opposition meeting before the session to devise our strategy,” said Ali.



However, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon rejected allegations levelled by the opposition lawmakers, and advised them to accept their defeat.

According to the agenda, the house is going to take up the Sindh Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, and the Karachi School of Business and Leadership Institute Bill, among other items. The environment and alternate department is also expected to answer questions over CNG kits.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2012.