CM assumes control over public educational institutions across Sindh

MQM staged a walkout from the session terming the bill illegal as it was not on the agenda.


Hafeez Tunio August 19, 2013
Sindh Assembly passed a law transferring the management and control of public sector universities from the governor to the chief minister. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ FILE

KARACHI:


In an unprecedented move, the Sindh Assembly passed a law transferring the management and control of public sector universities from the governor to the chief minister on Monday.


Since the ‘Sindh Universities Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013’ was not on the agenda and copies of the bill were not provided to lawmakers earlier, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) staged a walkout of the proceedings to show their opposition.

On the other hand, the law minister, Dr Sikandar Mandhro, moving the supplementary bill, said that, “After the 18th Amendment, all powers were devolved to chief ministers in the provinces. These powers, however, are being violated by an authority unconstitutionally. We decided to amend the law to improve the overall functioning of public sector universities and degree awarding institutes in the province,” he said, adding that it was the provincial government’s prerogative to make and amend the law and all parties in the session should support it.



As soon as the law minister completed his sentence, MQM members stood up in their seats and demanded copies of the bill. The leader of the opposition, Faisal Subzwari said that, “The bill is not on the agenda. If you are passing it through a supplementary order, you should have informed and given us copies of the bill.” Upon this, the speaker, Agha Siraj Durrani, asked for copies of the bill to be provided to the opposition members, however, the MQM MPAs could not be appeased and walked out of the proceedings, terming the bill illegal.

PML-N expresses unhappiness

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA, Irfanullah Marwat, took strong reservation to the issue and threatened the PPP members of boycotting the session. “We have supported the government on the issue of local government bill passed today but will not let you bulldoze the rules and procedures of the provincial assembly. Being a lawmaker, how one can move an amendment without reading the bill,” he said.



According to the salient features of the bill, the vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor, registrar, controller of examinations and chief accountant of all public universities in the province would be chief minister’s nominees. The admissions policy of all public universities would be determined by the Sindh government who would strive to provide equal opportunity to all students of the province, according to the bill.

Political victimisation

On a point of order, the PML-N MPA Sorth Thebo raised the issue of political victimisation and alleged that the government had started harassing their workers and local leaders before the by-election scheduled for August 22. The law minister, Dr Sikandar Mandhro, assured the PML-N lawmaker that the government would probe into the matter and take action against any police officials involved in harassment.

Toxic liqour

MQM’s Khalid Ahmed moved an adjournment motion, requesting the speaker to adjourn the assembly proceeding and discuss the death of 25 people who had lost their lives after consuming poisonous liquor. The excise and taxation minister assured the speaker that his department, along with the police and Rangers, had taken action against the people responsible and would soon start a crackdown against the people involved in the menace. Later, the MQM MPA withdrew his adjournment motion.

The provincial assembly also passed the Sindh High Density development board (Amendment) Bill and introduced the Sindh HIV, AIDS Control Treatment and Protection Bill and the Sindh Witness Protection Bill 2013. The newly elected PML-F MPA, Jam Madad Ali Khan, was administered oath during Monday’s session.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20th, 2013.

COMMENTS (2)

Raza | 10 years ago | Reply

It will now further make education worst in Karachi. PPP will be demolished by themselves due to their act of revenge with Karachi.

Ahmed | 10 years ago | Reply

Degrees for sale now that the PPP has direct control over govt universities, no need to study and compete with others anymore all you will need is the right name and contacts and you will get adimission over more deserving candidates.

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