PPP, PML-F, PTI ready to bash Altaf in PA today

Three parties submit resolutions to assembly secretariat against MQM founder

With the new session of the Sindh Assembly beginning from Wednesday (today), three resolutions were separately submitted to the assembly secretariat by the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, and the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Functional and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Tuesday against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement founder Altaf Hussain for his controversial speech delivered from London on August 22 to party supporters in Karachi.

The resolutions were submitted separately by PPP MPA Khairunnisa Mughal, PML-F’s Nand Kumar Goklani and PTI’s Khurrum Sher Zaman.

The resolution submitted by PPP lawmaker stated: “This House condemns in strongest words the anti-state speech made by MQM Chief Altaf Hussain, anti-state slogans of his supporters and inciting violence against specific Media Houses. This House demands from Government of Pakistan to trial MQM chief and his supporters involved under Article 6 of Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan”.

The resolution submitted by Goklani read: “Whereas the anti-state speech made by MQM Chief Altaf Hussain and anti state slogans of his supporters and attack on specific media houses is the shameful act. This House strongly condemns and demands that Government of Sindh recommends and approach to Federal Government to trial against MQM Chief and his supporters under Article 6 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan”.

Zaman’s resolution stated: “The founder and leader of Muttahida Quami Movement Pakistan Altaf Hussain committed the act of high-treason as per law and constitution of Pakistan when he provoked people to do rebellion against the state, chant anti-Pakistan slogans, incited attacks against media houses, while Alaf Hussain also did talk to disintegrate state and country of Pakistan, also attacked on foundation and integrity of Pakistan by invoking help from the United Nations and Indian secret agency Raw. This house demands from the federal government that a case of high-treason should be lodged against Altaf Hussain. Further cases of high treason should be lodged along with lawful action against persons who abetted Altaf Hussain in accordance with clause no 2 of Article 6 (of Constitution). This house strongly condemns the attack on media houses and anti-Pakistan speech made by Altaf Hussain on 22 August, 2016 and also expresses solidarity with parliament of Pakistan, armed forces, media, judiciary, and other democratic institutions working in accordance with the constitution”.  

Oath of office

Two newly elected MPAs of the PPP will take oath of office during the assembly’s new session on Wednesday.

Ghulam Murtaza Baloch and Aurangzeb Panhwar had won the by-elections for the constituencies PS-127 Karachi and PS-14 Jacobabad respectively.

The order of the day given for the session of assembly are included an adjournment motion submitted by Goklani against the reluctance of Shikarpur police to lodge an FIR and take action in a rape case there and a privilege motion moved by MQM MPA Muhammad Rashid Khilji. The privilege motion is about the failure of an opposition MPA to meet the Hyderabad commissioner despite an appointment.

Two bills

Two bills will also be introduced in the assembly during the day namely bill no 13 of 2016 the Jinnah Sindh Medical University (Amendment) Bill 2016 and bill no 16 of 2016 the Zulfiqarabad Development Authority (Amendment) Bill-2016.

Though resolutions submitted against the MQM founder are not included in agenda for the day’s session, the speaker or the chair could allow their movers to present their resolutions on out of turn of basis while using his power to relax rules of procedure of provincial assembly.

A meeting of the PPP parliamentary party was held on Tuesday night at the Chief Minister’s House jointly chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and the party’s parliamentary leader in Sindh Assembly and provincial minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro to adopt a strategy for the new session of the assembly.

Earlier, Speaker Agha Siraj Khan Durrani held a meeting with the chief minister discussed issues related to the expected proceedings of the house in the upcoming session.