Decrying delimitation: Lawmakers on the sideline as boundaries change
No one has consulted us, says PPP MPA Nadir Magsi .
PPP’s Manzoor Wasan spoke in favour of his party in the assembly, saying,“The government has only authorised DCs for the delimitation process in consultation with the major stakeholders.” PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The Sindh Assembly session on Thursday was full of questions and reservations on the ongoing delimitation exercise in the province, not only by members of the opposition but also lawmakers of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party.
“Enough is enough. I don’t feel any shame in highlighting the wrongdoings on part of our government,” said PPP MPA and former food minister, Nadir Magsi. “The officials in my areas, which fall in Qamber-Shahdadkot district, have done away with the status of two old town committees which were established about 15 years back. No one has consulted us and the bureaucrats are ignoring the concerns expressed by the local people.”
He remarked that it was the power of the people that elected the government and no one could stop them if they protested against the incumbent government.
Magsi’s remarks led the oppositions to thump the desks while many members shouted the slogans “shame, shame”.
The PPP leader, however, did not welcome the response, saying, “Please stop using this issue for politics. We are from the same family. There is no need for shouting at the government and expressing sympathies with me.”
Pakistan Muslim League - Functional’s MPA Mehtab Akbar Rashdi endorsed Nadir Magsi remarks, saying, “The officials have started the process by getting dictation from the provincial government. This process seems to be administratively difficult and politically easy.” She lamented that many union councils and villages were missing while people who had been living in their constituency for years had been shifted to other areas. “This is totally ridiculous and unfair,” she said.
She also diverted the deputy speaker’s attention towards the politically appointed commissioners who, being the appellant authority, were hearing the public’s appeals and objections. “We have been demanding that this process be started under the supervision of the judiciary but no one is paying heed to us,” she said. “People have submitted 66 objections in my constituency in Larkana. I wonder how these politically appointed commissioners would resolve people’s grievances.”
MQM deputy parliamentary leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan was of the view that all orders were being issued verbally to deputy commissioners who were keeping this whole process under wraps. “We wanted to be part of this process but the deputy commissioners are not independent and are working under pressure,” he said.
Law minister, Dr Sikander Mandhro, and education minister, Nisar Khuhro, however, came to the rescue of their party. “No one will abandon the existing town committees and the provincial government is not influencing the deputy commissioners,” said Mandhro. “All objections are being heard without prejudice and transparent election will be held.”
Matters of the House
Rashdi was also local about the issue of teaching Sindhi language in government schools. Referring to the Ebrahim Ali Bhai schools located in Gizri, she said, “The school has been adopted by an NGO and the schools’ administration has directed the staff to stop teaching Sindhi.” Education Minister Nisar Khuhro assured her that the government would look into the matter. “Sindhi will be taught in all public and private schools.”
Condemning the disinterring of the body in Bhuro Bheel, lawmakers demanded the provincial government to start a judicial inquiry and give strict punishment to the extremist elements and the police who wanted to dispose off the case.
“Not only the police but the local administration also supported the people nominated in the case. This should be discouraged and government must take action,” said PPP MPA Hasnain Mirza who belongs to Badin. He was backed by PPP’s Dr Khatumal Jewan and MQM’s Ponjo Mal.
The assembly introduced two bills — the Gorakh Hill Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2013, and Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Bill, 2013. The session was adjourned till today (Friday).
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2013.
The Sindh Assembly session on Thursday was full of questions and reservations on the ongoing delimitation exercise in the province, not only by members of the opposition but also lawmakers of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party.
“Enough is enough. I don’t feel any shame in highlighting the wrongdoings on part of our government,” said PPP MPA and former food minister, Nadir Magsi. “The officials in my areas, which fall in Qamber-Shahdadkot district, have done away with the status of two old town committees which were established about 15 years back. No one has consulted us and the bureaucrats are ignoring the concerns expressed by the local people.”
He remarked that it was the power of the people that elected the government and no one could stop them if they protested against the incumbent government.
Magsi’s remarks led the oppositions to thump the desks while many members shouted the slogans “shame, shame”.
The PPP leader, however, did not welcome the response, saying, “Please stop using this issue for politics. We are from the same family. There is no need for shouting at the government and expressing sympathies with me.”
Pakistan Muslim League - Functional’s MPA Mehtab Akbar Rashdi endorsed Nadir Magsi remarks, saying, “The officials have started the process by getting dictation from the provincial government. This process seems to be administratively difficult and politically easy.” She lamented that many union councils and villages were missing while people who had been living in their constituency for years had been shifted to other areas. “This is totally ridiculous and unfair,” she said.
She also diverted the deputy speaker’s attention towards the politically appointed commissioners who, being the appellant authority, were hearing the public’s appeals and objections. “We have been demanding that this process be started under the supervision of the judiciary but no one is paying heed to us,” she said. “People have submitted 66 objections in my constituency in Larkana. I wonder how these politically appointed commissioners would resolve people’s grievances.”
MQM deputy parliamentary leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan was of the view that all orders were being issued verbally to deputy commissioners who were keeping this whole process under wraps. “We wanted to be part of this process but the deputy commissioners are not independent and are working under pressure,” he said.
Law minister, Dr Sikander Mandhro, and education minister, Nisar Khuhro, however, came to the rescue of their party. “No one will abandon the existing town committees and the provincial government is not influencing the deputy commissioners,” said Mandhro. “All objections are being heard without prejudice and transparent election will be held.”
Matters of the House
Rashdi was also local about the issue of teaching Sindhi language in government schools. Referring to the Ebrahim Ali Bhai schools located in Gizri, she said, “The school has been adopted by an NGO and the schools’ administration has directed the staff to stop teaching Sindhi.” Education Minister Nisar Khuhro assured her that the government would look into the matter. “Sindhi will be taught in all public and private schools.”
Condemning the disinterring of the body in Bhuro Bheel, lawmakers demanded the provincial government to start a judicial inquiry and give strict punishment to the extremist elements and the police who wanted to dispose off the case.
“Not only the police but the local administration also supported the people nominated in the case. This should be discouraged and government must take action,” said PPP MPA Hasnain Mirza who belongs to Badin. He was backed by PPP’s Dr Khatumal Jewan and MQM’s Ponjo Mal.
The assembly introduced two bills — the Gorakh Hill Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2013, and Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Bill, 2013. The session was adjourned till today (Friday).
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2013.