Proposed varsities named after Altaf to be rechristened

Altaf Hussain University in Karachi to be named after Abdul Sattar Edhi and the one in Hyderabad after Fatima Jinnah

The Sindh Assembly unanimously passed two amendments bills on Monday for renaming two proposed private sector universities in Karachi and Hyderabad that were originally named after Muttahida Qaumi Movement founder Altaf Hussain.

Parliamentary affairs minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro presented the bills which called for renaming the proposed Altaf Hussain University in Karachi after late Maulana Abdul Sattar Edhi and the Altaf Hussain University in Hyderabad after Fatima Jinnah.

The bills amended the two original laws whose adoption in 2014 by the provincial assembly had paved way for establishing these universities.

The original laws were the “Altaf Hussain University at Hyderabad Act, 2014” and the “Altaf Hussain University at Karachi Act, 2014”.

Malik Riaz Hussain, chief of Bahria Town, is supposed to build these universities.

Earlier in the day, a meeting of Sindh cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah approved the drafts of the two amendments bills.

Speaking on the bills, Khuhro said around two years ago the two proposed universities were named after MQM founder Altaf Hussain in view of the public demand at that time.

“The universities were named after the MQM chief keeping public sentiments in mind even though he was proudly displaying the British passport issued to him back then,” he added.

“The two universities can no longer be named after Altaf Hussain, who has become disloyal to his own motherland.”

Khuhro said a university where the students of the province were supposed to receive higher education could not be named after a person who had refused to recognise Pakistan and did not respect the motherland of Sindh.

Speaking on the bills, MQM MPA Faisal Ali Subzwari said his political party had changed its policies because of a fundamental principle that there should be perennial show of loyalty and affinity with the motherland without discontinuity and beyond any question.

He added that the Indian Subcontinent’s Muslims, who had migrated to Pakistan after its independence, and even their next generations had on number of occasions had to put up with their loyalty with the country being questioned.

He said his party would support such positive moves of the government so that in the future nobody would raise doubts over the loyalty of those whose forefathers had actively participated in the Pakistan movement and left their native lands for their new motherland.

Subzwari said the proposed universities which were being renamed would be set up in the private sector and it was high time that the provincial government used its resource to establish a public sector university in Hyderabad – a longstanding demand of the residents of the province’s second largest city.

Mehab Akbar Rashidi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional also welcomed the renaming of the two universities. “Sindh has given much fame and honour to Altaf Hussain but he doesn’t deserve them at all,” she added.

She said those demanding a public sector university in Hyderabad should know the historical fact that initially the Sindh University was set up in Karachi but later shifted to Hyderabad. “Those in the House who had demanded naming the two universities after Altaf Hussain now seem to be confused on a number of issues.”

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Khurrum Sher Zaman also supported the move. He said the universities were initially named after a person of a controversial character and conduct.

The PTI MPA added that the proposal to name one of the universities after Edhi was first submitted by him to the provincial assembly in the form of a private resolution and he was pleased that the House was acting on his recommendation.

Kidnapped engineer

The assembly unanimously passed a resolution moved by health minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro calling upon the government to make efforts for rescuing a Pakistani engineer abducted by rebels in southern Sudan.

The resolution read, “This Assembly resolves and recommends to the government to approach the federal government for using diplomatic resources and influence for the release of innocent Pakistani Engineer Mr Ayaz Jamali of District Badin who has been kidnapped in southern Sudan”.

Speaking on his resolution, Dr Mandhro said the abducted Pakistan engineer belonged to his native town Badin. He added that the Pakistani engineer was working abroad at an oilfield. He said the engineer’s family in Badin was extremely worried about his safety and well-being.

He said the rebels had kidnapped a group of four or five people who worked at the oilfield and now reports had emerged that the driver and security guard had been killed.

Cabinet okays proposals

A Sindh cabinet meeting was held on Monday morning to discuss proposed amendments in different bills that were tabled in a session of the Sindh Assembly later in the day.

Presided over by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, the meeting was attended by all provincial ministers, the chief secretary, the Sindh police IG, all provincial secretaries at the New Sindh Secretariat.

The bills that were discussed in the meeting include the Anti-Terrorism Act (Sindh Amendment) Bill 2016, the Sindh Development & Maintenance of Infrastructure Cess Act 2017, the Sindh Shaheed Recognition & Compensation Act 2014, the Sindh Occupational Safety & Health Bill 2017, amendment in the Sindh Coal Authority 1993, change of nomenclature in the Altaf Hussain University Act 2014, amendment in the Sindh Revenue Board Act 2010, the Sindh Rented Premises (Amendment) Bill 2017, the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Human Resource Research & Development Board Act 2013, and the Jacobabad Institute of Medical Science Act 2013.

Officials of the home department discussed about bringing in the Anti-Terrorism Act (Sindh Amendment) Bill 2016, which is about making provision for protection of judges, counsel, public prosecutor, witness and persons concerned with court proceedings. Expressing his support for the amendment, the chief minister said these provisions were necessary for dispensation of justice.

Excise and taxation minister Dr Mukesh Chawla presented the Sindh Development and Infrastructure Cess Act-2017. The cabinet approved it to introduce in the assembly.

Health minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro briefed the cabinet on the proposed amendment in the Jacobabad Institute of Medical Science Act 2013. He suggested few amendments to enhance the function of the institute.

The amendment includes changes in the structure of the governing body, the academic council’s structure and other administrative decisions.

The home department also proposed amendments in Section 3(5) of the Sindh Shaheed Recognition & Compensation Act 2014.

The meeting was told that the government would offer jobs to two family members of a slain police officer and that the criteria of educational qualification and age would not be too restricting. 

Seconding the proposal, the CM said a policeman who embraces martyrdom for the nation deserves that his family should be properly looked after.

Murad also constituted a committee under the health minister that will revisit the draft bill after looking into different suggestions. 

The law department presented the Sindh Rented Premises (Amendment) Bill 2016, under which landlords have been given protection. It was observed that frauds committed by tenants have put an adverse impact on business of renting out property.

The chief minister formed a committee under Dr Sikandar Mendhro to remove some of the loopholes from the draft bill.

The meeting was told that the amendments in the SRB Act and the Sindh Coal Authority are purely legal and some job security has been proposed for the employees.