Targeted attacks likely to be discussed in Sindh Assembly session today

A notification will be issued about the opposition benches

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly session has been called today so that newly elected members can take oath. But Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) members - who have applied for the opposition benches - are likely to take up the law and order issue.

The session will start at 3pm today with speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in chair. Leaders of different parties, who have applied to sit on the opposition benches rather than with the treasury members, will also take up the issue.

Sindh Assembly secretary GM Umar Farooq said all arrangements for opposition seats have been finalised and an announcement would be made. When asked about the notification on the opposition leader, he said that MQM has a majority and has nominated Faisal Subzwari for the slot - but a final decision has yet to be made. The agenda of the session includes a ceremony in which newly elected MPAs including Pakistan Peoples Party’s Dost Muhammad Rahimoon, Makhdoom Khalilul Zaman and Abid Sundrani, Pakistan Muslim League’s Arbab Rahim and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Dr Seema Zia would take oath.

Twenty-five bills passed by the outgoing provincial assembly will also be discussed.

Four ordinances are also on the agenda, including Sindh Prevention and Control of Thalassemia Ordinance 2013, Mental Health Ordinance, Sindh Health Care Commission Ordinance. Meanwhile, Prevention of Defacement of Property Ordinance 2013, which will stop unauthorised wall chalking and prevent unwanted graffiti, will also be up for discussion.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2013.