KARACHI: Members of Sindh Assembly (SA) remained engaged and actively busy on Friday as they unanimously passed two bills besides protested against remarks by Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali in which he called the people of Sindh ‘electricity thieves’. The members also staged a protest over the prolonged power outages in the province.
The House unanimously passed ‘The Sindh Shaheed Recognition and Compensation Bill 2014’. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sikander Mandhro told the House through the Bill officials of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) who sacrifice their lives fighting against the terrorism, would be conferred and their families would be helped out.
Assembly also unanimously passed ‘The Sindh Criminal Prosecution Service (Constitution, Functions and Powers) (Amendment) Bill, 2014’.
On the other hand, member of PML-N protested against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)’s criticism on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The House also passed a unanimous resolution against Abid Sher Ali.
Sindh Education Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro presented the resolution and members of PPP, Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) signed it.
The resolution condemned ‘derogatory remarks of Abid Sher Ali. Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon told the House during his visit to Sindh Abid Sher Ali unlawfully ordered for discontinuation of electricity of Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA).
Abid Sher Ali used derogatory remarks against the people of Sindh, which did not suit to a minister. He warned that the same language could be used against Abid if he did not stop. “We appeal to Nawaz Sharif to stop Abid for using such foul language, otherwise same language could be used from other side,” said Sharjeel.
PML-N leader Irfanuulah Marwat was quick and not shy to assert Sharjeel statement and supporting the motion. He said if someone used such language, he himself should defend it.
If someone speaks against the people of Sindh, I am not going to support him. Treasury benches lauded Irfanullah Marwat’s remarks. Later talking to media Marwat said remarks of Abid Sher Ali was an individual act and PML- N has nothing to do with it.
“Had my party been having stance which Abid has, I would have been defending him rather than opposing it.
MPA Ghulam Qadir Chandio raised the question about electricity theft only from Sindh. “If Abid Sher Ali was not asked to control his language, then we would response him in the same coin,” said PPP lawmaker. During debate, treasury benches criticised Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif. Protesting over remarks, PML-N members argued those words should be expunged from the proceedings. Speaker gave ruling to expunge those words.
SA unanimously passed a resolution, condemning the statement of Geo News against Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). PTI MPA Khurram Sher Zaman tabled the resolution. The resolution said, “This Assembly condemns the objectionable statement of Geo News, which defamed our national security agency with false accusation without proof on ISI chief, which is an irresponsible act of Geo News. Our prestigious defence institute ISI has always been pride for us.”
Zaman said there should be freedom of expression but no one has authority to put such allegations on ISI. No Pakistani would tolerate such allegations. Earlier speaker Agha Siraj Durrani talking to media persons said it was not right to allege national institutions of defence without any proof. He said these institutions were working for survival and security of the country.
MQM MPA Irum Azeem Farooque moved ‘Adjournment Motion’ regarding five-year-old girl Afreen who was ‘kidnapped and raped in Bheem Poora, Karachi on March 30, 2014.’ Minister for Parliamentary Affairs DrSikander Mandhro informed the House an FIR has been lodged in this matter and government would not sit aside until the arrest of culprits. He said new legislation would be done if required to punish such culprits.
During ‘question hour’ provincial Minister for Food Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar told the House in order to check the standard of wheat, a laboratory has been set-up in Karachi. He said during floods 2010 wheat was rotten but after that this did not happen. He said there was no shortage of wheat and flour in Sindh. Minister informed the Assembly as compared to Punjab, price of wheat per kilogramme in Sindh was Rs 5 to 6 lesser although Punjab was biggest producer of wheat in the country.
On call attention notice of PML-F MPA Dr Muhammad Rafique Banbhan the House was told SA would go for new legislation against those destroy roads and highways. Dr Mendhro admitted conditions of roads in the province were terrible. In reply to another call attention notice raised by MQM MPA Jamal Ahmed, Dr Mendhro said as compared to first four months of 2013, the street crime ratio of same period 2014 was much lesser in Karachi. On call attention notice of MQM lawmaker Naila Munir, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs said Sindh government has released Rs 254 million regarding campaign to control measles. In reply of call attention notice raised by lawmaker of MQM Syed Khalid Ahmed, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs said two grade-18 police officers were facing departmental inquiry. Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani adjourned the House till Monday (April 28
SA slams Abid Sher Ali for ‘Sindhi’ remarks
