Protest, walkout mar Sindh Assembly proceedings

Thursday’s proceedings at the Sindh Assembly were severely marred by disorderly conduct from legislators, forcing the assembly chair to abruptly adjourn the session. 

The issue at the core of the ruckus was that Opposition lawmakers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement were not allowed by the chair, Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza, to speak on the ‘summary rejection’ by Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani of a privilege motion from one of MQM’s legislators.

Being the main Opposition representatives in the house, the MQM’s lawmakers also staged a walkout in protest against Raza’s decision to stop them from raising the issue of their privilege motion being rejected by the speaker.

The situation in the house turned particularly hostile when MQM’s lawmaker Sabir Hussain Qaimkhani sought permission from the deputy speaker, who was chairing the session at that time, to raise the issue of Durrani having rejected the privilege motion in his chamber without even letting the house consider it. 

The privilege motion from the MQM was against the Sindh local government secretary and as the deputy speaker refused the party the opportunity to speak on the issue, the microphone of the concerned opposition legislator remained switched off. 

Speaking on the issue, Leader of Opposition Khawaja Izharul Hassan, of the MQM, lamented that business being proposed by Opposition legislators was being constantly ignored by the chair and it seemed that the Opposition MPAs were being made to sit in the house merely to witness transaction of government-proposed business.

“If our issues will not be heard, then we will protest inside the house and also outside the speaker’s chamber,” said Hassan.  He warned of moving the apex court against the unjust decisions of the assembly chair, stating that the Opposition lawmakers were in no mood to accept the dictatorial ways employed by the deputy speaker to run the house.

He said the privilege motion by his fellow lawmakers was not against the governor or chief minister, and was only related to the conduct of a local government sectary with the legislator concerned.

To this, the deputy speaker responded that the speaker had been, in accordance with the rules, empowered to take a decision in his chamber regarding rejecting any motion or resolution by an MPA.

MQM’s parliamentary party leader, Syed Sardar Ahmed, said it was unjust on the speaker’s part to summarily reject a motion without listening to the point of view of the lawmaker who had moved it. He said the PA speaker for past several years did not use his discretionary powers to reject motions filed by lawmakers without due consideration by the house.

MQM MPA Faisal Ali Sabzwari said the deputy speaker should be sympathetic towards the Opposition legislators and try to allay their concerns. “You are more worried that people on evening TV talk shows will be ridiculing the proceedings of the Sindh Assembly. That shows you are least concerned about what historians will write on the basis of what is happening in this legislature today,” said Sabzwari addressing the deputy speaker.

MQM legislator Muhammad Hussain said if the trend of ignoring their motions continued, the Opposition legislators would not only boycott the proceedings of the house but would also convene a parallel session outside the assembly building. 

Clarifying the situation, Sindh Health Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro said the rules of the Sindh Assembly had given certain discretionary powers to the speaker. He added that in case the speaker rejects a motion moved by a lawmaker, then the assembly secretariat writes to the MPA concerned informing him about the reasons for rejection. 

The provincial minister said it was unfair to assert that issues raised by Opposition lawmakers were not entertained in the house, adding that several resolutions moved by Opposition legislators were adopted on the ‘Private Members’ Day’. 

Similarly, he stated, the assembly had also passed into law a number of private bills moved by Opposition legislators.  

The hostilities increased to the point where the Opposition leader tore copies of the agenda and hurled them towards the speaker’s rostrum. This was followed by the Opposition lawmakers of the MQM walking out from the house in protest. 

The deputy speaker adjourned the session till 10am on Friday (today).

 

Govt officers’ houses

Earlier, the house was informed that the provincial government had initiated action to vacate offices and residences unduly occupied by over 350 government officers in the province. 

Provincial minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro, while responding to a call-attention notice by Opposition legislator of PML-F Nusrat Seher Abbasi, conceded that several government officers in Sindh had unduly occupied official residences without any authorisation from the government.

He said the Sindh Cabinet had decided to take stern action to resolve the issue and action had been launched against 71 gazetted officers of the government.