Treasury, opposition lawmakers trade barbs over ‘nepotism’

The first day of general discussion on the newly presented Sindh government budget was severely marred in the provincial assembly by an exchange of heated arguments between the treasury legislators from the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the opposition lawmakers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

The PA on Monday witnessed a tense situation as MPAs stood up from their seats during their verbal clash after an MQM-P legislator objected to the close relationship between Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah, terming it a case of “sheer nepotism”.

MQM-P lawmaker Adil Askari expressed objection over the CS because he is the CM’s brother-in-law, claiming that nowhere in the world is a provincial chief executive closely related to the head of bureaucracy of his government.

Askari opined that such a close relation between the top two provincial authorities creates a situation of conflict of interest in governmental affairs, and also goes against the established global norms of good governance.

PPP MPAs strongly objected to these remarks, and resorted to a vocal protest. Excise & Taxation Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla requested the chair that the anti-CM remarks uttered by the opposition legislator be expunged from the proceedings.

Acting PA speaker Anthony Naveed intervened to bring the tense situation under control. He asked both sides to avoid heated exchanges, and to also fully honour the sanctity of the House.

Earlier, a number of PPP and opposition lawmakers took part in the general discussion on the new provincial budget. The treasury MPAs claimed in their speeches that the new budget reflects the aspirations of the residents of the province.

The PPP legislators claimed that the budget also reflects the pro-people policies and the vision of the party leadership. Opposition lawmakers opined that the PPP failed to provide the basic facilities of life to the residents. They said underprivileged residents “suffer gravely because of government apathy towards their serious problems”.

MQM-P MPA Jamal Ahmed said people in his constituency, comprising North Nazimabad, suffer severely because of an acute shortage of potable water. The Sindh Solid Waste Management Board failed to quickly lift animal waste from the streets during Eidul Azha and dispose of it, he claimed.

Ahmed criticised the provincial government for failing to incorporate the development schemes that were proposed by the opposition legislators into the new budget for the province.

PPP lawmaker Shazia Karim said the new federal government budget ignored Sindh’s developmental needs. She said the budget does not contain an ample allocation of funds for the Hyderabad-Sukkur motorway and the K-IV bulk water supply project. The provincial government will undertake infrastructure development works in Lyari, she added. MQM-P MPA Ejazul Haq said the new provincial budget does not have any development plan for his constituency areas in Orangi Town. The representatives of the people of Karachi have rejected the new “anti-people” budget, he claimed.

PPP legislator Nuzhat Pathan called upon the provincial government to upgrade the services of the Water & Sanitation Agency to ensure that potable water is available for Hyderabad’s residents.

PPP lawmaker Farzana Baloch raised the issue of inflated electricity bills sent to consumers in Karachi. Defaulting power consumers in the city are not held accountable by K-Electric, she added.