PA rejects demand for forming judicial commission on KE issues

An opposition lawmaker on Tuesday moved a private resolution demanding that the Sindh government constitute a judicial commission to look into K-Electric’s alleged excesses against their consumers in Karachi. The provincial assembly rejected Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan MPA Aamir Siddiqui’s motion through a majority vote.

Opposing the resolution, Parliamentary Secretary Heer Soho said that a committee formed by the PA to look into the issues being faced by power consumers in Sindh has already been functioning.

Heer advised Siddiqui to submit his complaint concerning KE to that committee. Excise & Taxation Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla said the committee is quite empowered, adding that its meeting would be held shortly.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Fayyaz Butt, who is chairman of the PA committee on electricity issues, also mentioned the empowered status of the committee. He said the committee comprises six lawmakers from the treasury and opposition benches. The committee will look into Siddiqui’s grievances, he added.

Austerity measures

Jamaat-e-Islami MPA Muhammad Farooq moved a private resolution demanding that the provincial government adopt austerity measures and curtail its undue expenditures in view of the unsatisfactory economic situation in the country. The PA rejected this motion through a majority vote as well.

Heer said the provincial government has already adopted austerity measures, which is why the chief minister has been serving only a cup of tea and two biscuits to his guests. She said that moving such a resolution is unnecessary. Opposing the resolution, Chawla also stressed that the provincial government has been conducting an austerity drive.

Lyari boxer

The PA also passed a resolution to pay homage to a young female boxer from Lyari, Aaliya Soomro, who recently won a world title. PPP MPA Shazia Karim moved the resolution.

Shazia said the provincial government would fully support the emerging female boxer from Lyari, adding that the sportswoman belongs to a humble family. Aaliya and her father were present in the visitors’ gallery of the House. The legislators thumped their desks to encourage the athlete.

Other resolutions

The PA unanimously passed a resolution against the curtailment of gas supply to consumers in Sindh. The private resolution was moved by PPP MPA Dr Sikandar Shoro.

The House also passed a resolution demanding that the federal government build the Hyderabad-Sukkur motorway in Sindh. The private resolution was moved by PPP MPA Asif Moosa.