In session: Sindh passes tenants registration bill without opposition’s input
MQM lawmakers question presence of PTI 'strangers' in the session
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon speaks during the Sindh Assembly session in Karachi on Monday. PHOTO: ONLINE
KARACHI:
Members of the Sindh Assembly's treasury bench turned down the amendments proposed by the opposition to the 'Sindh Information and Temporary Residents Bill, 2015', which was later passed unanimously on Monday.
The law was drafted in view of the National Action Plan to curb terrorism in the province. Under the new law, property dealers, landlords, tenants as well as hotel managements are mandated to inform the police about temporary residents within a stipulated time. Opposition members belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) pleaded that tenants, landlords and property dealers should either be exempted from the process or the deadline for registration be enhanced. "It looks like you are making a police state through this legislation," said Syed Sardar Ahmed, the MQM's parliamentary leader, adding that the police should not be given power in every sphere of life.
The minister for parliamentary affairs, Dr Sikandar Mandhro, responded to the MQM lawmakers' pleas. "If not a police state, we cannot afford to have a terrorist state too," he said. The law states that properly dealers, landlords and tenants will have to inform the police within 48 hours about the delivery of possession of a rented premises, providing information about the tenant. Hotel managements will inform the police through the fastest means of communication within three hours of letting out the premises.
Sardar Ahmed demanded that the law may not be declared as cognisable (arrest without warrant) or a non-bailable offence and that the punishment for violators be reduced from six months to a month. The treasury members, however, rejected the amendments. Dr Mandhro pointed out, however, that strict punishments were crucial for the implementation of the law and for deterring people from letting out their properties without informing police. Opposition leader Shaharyar Mahar requested to enhance the time frame for the registration of guests at hotels or guest houses from 3 hours to 12 hours. The treasury members, however, did not heed his suggestion.
The Sindh Assembly also passed the 'AO Post Graduate Institute of Orthopaedic Science Bill, 2015'.
Resolutions
The lawmakers unanimously passed five resolutions during the session. They moved a joint resolution, demanding the Sindh government to acknowledge International Street Children Day and protect street children in Sindh. Heer Ismail Soho and Khalid Ahmed of the MQM, Nusrat Seher Abbasi and Mehtan Akbar Rashdi of Pakistan Muslim League - Functional and Dr Sikandar Mandho and Nisar Khuhro of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) were among the signatories of the resolution.
Another resolution was moved by PPP's Khairunisa Mughal that reads: "This house resolves that the provincial government must take steps to stop the poisonous water coming from Punjab to Sindh that causes losses to fertile land in Ghotki district." The assembly also recommended the Sindh government to ask the federal government to annul the decision of closing down the regional office of the National Bank of Pakistan in Larkana. The resolution was moved by PPP MPA Khursheed Junejo.
'Strangers' in the House
MQM lawmakers called their Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) counterparts strangers in the house, questioning their presence in the session. This stirred a debate in the house as to why the speaker had allowed them to attend the session. The PPP MPAs defended the PTI lawmakers' presence. As the session started with Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in the chair, MQM leader Muhammad Hussain diverted the attention of the house toward Article 64 (2) and said: "If a member does not attend 40 consecutive days in a sitting of the assembly, he or she shall stand disqualified or de-seated automatically. I want to know why these strangers are still present in the house," he said.
The speaker replied that: "This matter has already been resolved and I have given a ruling on it. The PTI members had approached me to not accept their resignations," he said.
But the MQM MPAs insisted they be given a written briefing on the issue. PPP MPA Murad Ali Shah, referring to the rules of procedure, said: "The assembly has to make the decision and these members cannot be de-seated automatically."
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2015.
Members of the Sindh Assembly's treasury bench turned down the amendments proposed by the opposition to the 'Sindh Information and Temporary Residents Bill, 2015', which was later passed unanimously on Monday.
The law was drafted in view of the National Action Plan to curb terrorism in the province. Under the new law, property dealers, landlords, tenants as well as hotel managements are mandated to inform the police about temporary residents within a stipulated time. Opposition members belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) pleaded that tenants, landlords and property dealers should either be exempted from the process or the deadline for registration be enhanced. "It looks like you are making a police state through this legislation," said Syed Sardar Ahmed, the MQM's parliamentary leader, adding that the police should not be given power in every sphere of life.
The minister for parliamentary affairs, Dr Sikandar Mandhro, responded to the MQM lawmakers' pleas. "If not a police state, we cannot afford to have a terrorist state too," he said. The law states that properly dealers, landlords and tenants will have to inform the police within 48 hours about the delivery of possession of a rented premises, providing information about the tenant. Hotel managements will inform the police through the fastest means of communication within three hours of letting out the premises.
Sardar Ahmed demanded that the law may not be declared as cognisable (arrest without warrant) or a non-bailable offence and that the punishment for violators be reduced from six months to a month. The treasury members, however, rejected the amendments. Dr Mandhro pointed out, however, that strict punishments were crucial for the implementation of the law and for deterring people from letting out their properties without informing police. Opposition leader Shaharyar Mahar requested to enhance the time frame for the registration of guests at hotels or guest houses from 3 hours to 12 hours. The treasury members, however, did not heed his suggestion.
The Sindh Assembly also passed the 'AO Post Graduate Institute of Orthopaedic Science Bill, 2015'.
Resolutions
The lawmakers unanimously passed five resolutions during the session. They moved a joint resolution, demanding the Sindh government to acknowledge International Street Children Day and protect street children in Sindh. Heer Ismail Soho and Khalid Ahmed of the MQM, Nusrat Seher Abbasi and Mehtan Akbar Rashdi of Pakistan Muslim League - Functional and Dr Sikandar Mandho and Nisar Khuhro of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) were among the signatories of the resolution.
Another resolution was moved by PPP's Khairunisa Mughal that reads: "This house resolves that the provincial government must take steps to stop the poisonous water coming from Punjab to Sindh that causes losses to fertile land in Ghotki district." The assembly also recommended the Sindh government to ask the federal government to annul the decision of closing down the regional office of the National Bank of Pakistan in Larkana. The resolution was moved by PPP MPA Khursheed Junejo.
'Strangers' in the House
MQM lawmakers called their Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) counterparts strangers in the house, questioning their presence in the session. This stirred a debate in the house as to why the speaker had allowed them to attend the session. The PPP MPAs defended the PTI lawmakers' presence. As the session started with Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in the chair, MQM leader Muhammad Hussain diverted the attention of the house toward Article 64 (2) and said: "If a member does not attend 40 consecutive days in a sitting of the assembly, he or she shall stand disqualified or de-seated automatically. I want to know why these strangers are still present in the house," he said.
The speaker replied that: "This matter has already been resolved and I have given a ruling on it. The PTI members had approached me to not accept their resignations," he said.
But the MQM MPAs insisted they be given a written briefing on the issue. PPP MPA Murad Ali Shah, referring to the rules of procedure, said: "The assembly has to make the decision and these members cannot be de-seated automatically."
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2015.