Opposition members walk out after PML-F MPA banned from Sindh Assembly session

The speaker later took back her decision and allowed Nusrat Seher Abbasi to sit in the session.

SINDH: Opposition members belonging to PML-F and PML-N walked out of the Sindh Assembly session on Thursday after an argument between acting speaker, Shehla Raza and PML-F MPA, Nusrat Seher Abbasi. 

The speaker ordered Nusart Seher Abbasi to leave the session and banned her entry for the current session.  “You are not following the rules and insult the speaker by intervening in every matter creating uproar in the session; I cannot allow any member inside the house who behaves against the rules,” Shehla Raza said. This led to the opposition members walking out of the session.

The issue arose when Minister for Mines and Mineral Development Manzoor Wasan started levelling allegations against PML-F member who being minister in the last PPP government had allotted one million acres government land on lease at throwaway price. “I have referred the inquiry to anti corruption department; the land worth of billion of rupees has been given at two rupees per feet. These people have set a record of corruption,” he said.

This prompted Abbasi to respond. She became emotional and said, “Please stop the allegation otherwise, I will also bring proof on how PPP ministers had bungled billion of rupees in their respective departments. No one can challenge it,” she remarked.

The PPP MPAs stood up at their feet and started shouting “shame, shame”. This created an uproar in the house and despite the speaker’s warnings, an emotionally charged Nusrat Seher Abbasi continued her speech, which led the speaker to give ruling against her.  “No one heeds me because I am a female speaker, but I will set a precedent of taking action against those members who do not abide by rules,” Shehlaz Raza said.

Soon after the opposition members left the house, the senior minister Nisar Khuhro, Sharjeel Memon and other PPP MPAs requested the acting speaker to take back her ruling and allow the PML-F member to sit the session. Later, Raza agreed, the PPP MPAs pursued the opposition members and brought them back to the session.