Divided options: ‘Appointment of opposition leader in Sindh may be delayed’

The speaker asked the government to reshuffle policemen in his home district of Shikarpur.

KARACHI:

The members of the joint opposition parties in Sindh have announced a protest in the upcoming assembly session as the speaker disclosed that the appointment of the opposition leader can take more time.

Talking to the media at his office, Sindh Assembly speaker Agha Siraj Durrani disclosed that the appointment can take more time as 25 members of the opposition are divided on this issue that has delayed to issue notification for this slot.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had given a joint application recommending PML-F MPA Shaharyar Mahar as opposition leader. Later, PML-N's Irfanullah Marwat and Shafi Jamote withdrew their support.

"Marwat has now given us an application that his party will no longer support Mahar," said Durrani. "This has created confusions and caused delays. The scrutiny is under process." Durrani said he cannot carry out this process in haste. "Once the process is complete, I can appoint the opposition leader within a week after that."

Durrani claimed that opposition members belonging to the PML-F have started threatening the assembly secretary and other staff for not issuing a notification. "I ask them to adopt whatever pressure tactics they want but I will not violate the rules," he said. Durrani said he was unsure if this matter will be resolved before the budget, which will be presented in the second week of June.

The speaker also asked the government to reshuffle policemen in his home district of Shikarpur given the numerous kidnapping cases. "The local police have developed links with the dacoits and criminals. I will suggest exchanging the police officers of Tharparkar with those in Shikarpur district."

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2014.