PPP legislator stages walk-out from PA
November 29, 2008
Karachi
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA), Tariq Masood Arain, staged a walk out from the Sindh Assembly on Friday to protest alleged occupation of his land in Nawabshah by members of the Zardari clan, and the perceived lack of response from his colleagues in the party and government. He also announced staging a hunger strike outside the assembly to seek redressal of his grievances.
Arain raised the issue on a point of order after the assembly session started two and a half hours later than its scheduled time. He accused that an influential belonging to the Zardari clan had occupied his land and had developed “Benazir Bhutto Society” there. He said that he talked to Member Nation Assembly (MNA) Faryal Talpur as well as the local revenue official, but his efforts were in vain. He regretted that land is being occupied in the name of late Benazir Bhutto. The MPA was also furious over the lack of response from his colleagues.
Pir Mazharul Haq resonded by saying that he would look into the matter as the legislator is dearer to him than the revenue official, while law minister Ayaz Soomro said that he would seek details about the case on Monday.
Seemingly unsatisfied over the response, Arain announced staging a hunger strike outside the Sindh Assembly from Friday and staged a walk out from the house. Later several legislators brought him back to the house.
Vacancies of judges to be filled soon: Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro told the assembly that vacancies of the civil, senior civil and additional sessions judges would be filled very soon.
Responding to a point of order raised by treasury MPA Jam Tamachi about delay in the disposal of cases, the minister informed the house that there was a shortage of judges at the Sindh High Court (SHC). He said that vacancies at the high court level would also be filled.
Jam Tamachi said cases are pending before the judiciary since several years. He said jail riots are also being increased because prisoners’ cases are not being disposed of. He said that there was also a lot of litigation in revenue cases whose disposal also took years.
Minister for irrigation, Syed Murad Ali Shah said number of judicial members (revenue) has increased from one to three recently and caseload has been divided.
On a point of order raised by opposition leader Jam Madad about lack of facilities for lower court judges, Soomro disclosed that SHC chief justice had sent a summary in this regard and hoped that all “complaints” about lack of facilities by the judges would be addressed during the year. He aid that the government would provide the judges with vehicles very soon, while judges’ colonies are also being constructed in each district. He said PC-1 has been prepared in this regard.
He said that the government was also considering increasing the number of prison vans to bring under-trial prisoners for hearing. The minister disclosed that a “separate section” is being created at the Home Department to deal with problems of prisoners and a summary has been sent to the finance department in this regard.
Law and order situation: Nusrat Abbasi of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) said that the law and order situation has deteriorated as not only were cell phones being snatched but people were also being gunned down by robbers. She said that the robbers not only commit robberies in public vehicles in the city but also kidnap young girls. She cited a case of a young girl being being abducted by robbers after committing a robbery in a bus on Abul Hasan Aspahani Road three days ago.
She said that kidnapping for ransom incidents had also increased and seven to eight people had been kidnapped for ransom from Khairpur alone. She claimed that some of those kidnapped have been killed even after paying ransom. She suggested that instead of increasing number of policemen, there was a need to better utilize available manpower. The law minister said that he would present details about the Abul Hasan Aspahani incident on Monday.
Another MPA said that crimes near new Subzi Mandi on Super Highway have increased due to the imminent Eid-ul-Azha, where potential customers are being robber.
Another MPA raised the issue of alleged corruption at Driving Licence Branch, Clifton. He said that the computerization of licences scheme had launched but fake licences were still being made in collusion with “people” at the branch.
Substandard drinking water in Sindh: Opposition member, Arif Jatoi said that underground water in Mirpurkhas, Khairpur, Thatta, Badin and Naushehroferoz was not fit for human consumption,. He said that barring Karachi and Hyderabad, only 10 million people in Sindh were being provided drinking water.
In response, Minister for Price Control, Shoaib Bukhari informed the assembly on behalf of Minister for Public Health Engineering, Muhammad Adil Siddiqui, that the government was aware of this fact and had launched “clean drinking water for all” programme. He said that the Sindh government was trying to provide drinking water facilities in each union council and had launched a Rs1.8 billion scheme in this regard. Bukhari said that there was no cure of arsenic water. He also spoke about the efficacy of treatment plants.
Jam Tamachi said that storm-water of Hyderabad is drains into Phulleli Canal.
The minister said that with the assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB), a scheme of potable water was launched in Dadu district but it could not be completed due to the non-release of funds. He said that about three months ago, the government had revived this scheme to provide drinking water in Kacchho area of Dadu.
Indian accusations criticised: Marvi Rashdi of PML-F said that India was not showing a “responsible” attitude following the Mumbai mayhem by raising accusatory fingers at Pakistan.
Humera Alwani said that Indian leaders’ statements were leaving negative impact on Pak-India relations. She complained that the reporting of the incident by Indian media was not objective.
Speaker Nisar Khuhro observed that foreign ministry had already taken this issue of “accusation without any proof”.
Displaced of Lyari expressway: Shama Mithani said that the displaced of Lyari expressway had not been given compensation and suggested to form a committee to look into problems of the displaced. Khurshid Khokhar also complained that Christians and Hindus living along the route of Lyari expressway had not been given compensation.
Shoaib Bukhari of MQM said that these allegations were untrue. He said that some who had been given compensation had resettled in the area. He said that Lyari expressway scheme was launched with the financial assistance of the federal government. He said that ECNEC in its recent meeting had approved releasing funds and hoped that funds would be released in next week. Bukhari rejected the demands of Khokhar to set up a committee as this scheme was between the federal govt and the city government.
Journalists protest: Reporters staged a token boycott of the assembly against the non-arrest of the murderer of journalist Azeem Leghari and against the statement released by three MPAs before the police in favour of the “killer.” Minister for Information, Shazi Marri, informed the session that the statement of the legislators would not influence the investigation. The law minister said that the government would ensure fair and impartial inquiry into the incident and asked journalists to nominate any upright senior police officer for inquiry or re-inquiry of the murder.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA), Tariq Masood Arain, staged a walk out from the Sindh Assembly on Friday to protest alleged occupation of his land in Nawabshah by members of the Zardari clan, and the perceived lack of response from his colleagues in the party and government. He also announced staging a hunger strike outside the assembly to seek redressal of his grievances.
Arain raised the issue on a point of order after the assembly session started two and a half hours later than its scheduled time. He accused that an influential belonging to the Zardari clan had occupied his land and had developed “Benazir Bhutto Society” there. He said that he talked to Member Nation Assembly (MNA) Faryal Talpur as well as the local revenue official, but his efforts were in vain. He regretted that land is being occupied in the name of late Benazir Bhutto. The MPA was also furious over the lack of response from his colleagues.
Pir Mazharul Haq resonded by saying that he would look into the matter as the legislator is dearer to him than the revenue official, while law minister Ayaz Soomro said that he would seek details about the case on Monday.
Seemingly unsatisfied over the response, Arain announced staging a hunger strike outside the Sindh Assembly from Friday and staged a walk out from the house. Later several legislators brought him back to the house.
Vacancies of judges to be filled soon: Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro told the assembly that vacancies of the civil, senior civil and additional sessions judges would be filled very soon.
Responding to a point of order raised by treasury MPA Jam Tamachi about delay in the disposal of cases, the minister informed the house that there was a shortage of judges at the Sindh High Court (SHC). He said that vacancies at the high court level would also be filled.
Jam Tamachi said cases are pending before the judiciary since several years. He said jail riots are also being increased because prisoners’ cases are not being disposed of. He said that there was also a lot of litigation in revenue cases whose disposal also took years.
Minister for irrigation, Syed Murad Ali Shah said number of judicial members (revenue) has increased from one to three recently and caseload has been divided.
On a point of order raised by opposition leader Jam Madad about lack of facilities for lower court judges, Soomro disclosed that SHC chief justice had sent a summary in this regard and hoped that all “complaints” about lack of facilities by the judges would be addressed during the year. He aid that the government would provide the judges with vehicles very soon, while judges’ colonies are also being constructed in each district. He said PC-1 has been prepared in this regard.
He said that the government was also considering increasing the number of prison vans to bring under-trial prisoners for hearing. The minister disclosed that a “separate section” is being created at the Home Department to deal with problems of prisoners and a summary has been sent to the finance department in this regard.
Law and order situation: Nusrat Abbasi of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) said that the law and order situation has deteriorated as not only were cell phones being snatched but people were also being gunned down by robbers. She said that the robbers not only commit robberies in public vehicles in the city but also kidnap young girls. She cited a case of a young girl being being abducted by robbers after committing a robbery in a bus on Abul Hasan Aspahani Road three days ago.
She said that kidnapping for ransom incidents had also increased and seven to eight people had been kidnapped for ransom from Khairpur alone. She claimed that some of those kidnapped have been killed even after paying ransom. She suggested that instead of increasing number of policemen, there was a need to better utilize available manpower. The law minister said that he would present details about the Abul Hasan Aspahani incident on Monday.
Another MPA said that crimes near new Subzi Mandi on Super Highway have increased due to the imminent Eid-ul-Azha, where potential customers are being robber.
Another MPA raised the issue of alleged corruption at Driving Licence Branch, Clifton. He said that the computerization of licences scheme had launched but fake licences were still being made in collusion with “people” at the branch.
Substandard drinking water in Sindh: Opposition member, Arif Jatoi said that underground water in Mirpurkhas, Khairpur, Thatta, Badin and Naushehroferoz was not fit for human consumption,. He said that barring Karachi and Hyderabad, only 10 million people in Sindh were being provided drinking water.
In response, Minister for Price Control, Shoaib Bukhari informed the assembly on behalf of Minister for Public Health Engineering, Muhammad Adil Siddiqui, that the government was aware of this fact and had launched “clean drinking water for all” programme. He said that the Sindh government was trying to provide drinking water facilities in each union council and had launched a Rs1.8 billion scheme in this regard. Bukhari said that there was no cure of arsenic water. He also spoke about the efficacy of treatment plants.
Jam Tamachi said that storm-water of Hyderabad is drains into Phulleli Canal.
The minister said that with the assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB), a scheme of potable water was launched in Dadu district but it could not be completed due to the non-release of funds. He said that about three months ago, the government had revived this scheme to provide drinking water in Kacchho area of Dadu.
Indian accusations criticised: Marvi Rashdi of PML-F said that India was not showing a “responsible” attitude following the Mumbai mayhem by raising accusatory fingers at Pakistan.
Humera Alwani said that Indian leaders’ statements were leaving negative impact on Pak-India relations. She complained that the reporting of the incident by Indian media was not objective.
Speaker Nisar Khuhro observed that foreign ministry had already taken this issue of “accusation without any proof”.
Displaced of Lyari expressway: Shama Mithani said that the displaced of Lyari expressway had not been given compensation and suggested to form a committee to look into problems of the displaced. Khurshid Khokhar also complained that Christians and Hindus living along the route of Lyari expressway had not been given compensation.
Shoaib Bukhari of MQM said that these allegations were untrue. He said that some who had been given compensation had resettled in the area. He said that Lyari expressway scheme was launched with the financial assistance of the federal government. He said that ECNEC in its recent meeting had approved releasing funds and hoped that funds would be released in next week. Bukhari rejected the demands of Khokhar to set up a committee as this scheme was between the federal govt and the city government.
Journalists protest: Reporters staged a token boycott of the assembly against the non-arrest of the murderer of journalist Azeem Leghari and against the statement released by three MPAs before the police in favour of the “killer.” Minister for Information, Shazi Marri, informed the session that the statement of the legislators would not influence the investigation. The law minister said that the government would ensure fair and impartial inquiry into the incident and asked journalists to nominate any upright senior police officer for inquiry or re-inquiry of the murder.
