KARACHI - The Sindh Assembly on Friday passed a resolution in support of the ISI unanimously, besides adopting a censure motion against Federal State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali over his alleged derogatory remarks of calling the people of Sindh as thieves.
The House witnessed smooth proceedings till adjourning of the sitting of the day as MQM lawmakers were shifted from Opposition to treasury benches by vacating the seat of the opposition leader for joint opposition parties - PML-N, PML-F and PTI.
The House, which came in order at 10:15am with Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in the Chair witnessed brief uproar and exchange of words between the PPP and the PML-N when Ghulam Qadir Chandio of government side drew the attention of the Chair over controversial statements of Federal State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali, who according to him, called the people of Sindh as thieves of electricity.
PPP members chanted slogans of shame-shame against the federal minister. They said it was the policy of the PML-N government to deprive the Sindh from its share of electricity.
PML-N’s MPA Sorath Thebo rose to reply to the treasury benches, saying you think we are few members in the opposition so you want to pressurise us but we will not sit idle and listen your criticism.
PML-N’s parliamentary leader Irfanullah Marwat speaking on the issue told the House he cannot defend the federal state minister as Sindh is beloved to him than his party’s minister. He said the federal minister should avoid blaming the provinces with names of power thieves.
After brief uproar, the order returned to the House and business was taken up turn by turn.
With completing the agenda, Sindh Education Minster Nisar Ahmed Khuhro moved a censure motion against Abid Sher Ali which the House passed unanimously.
The censure motion stated: “This assembly censure the derogatory remarks of the Federal State Minister for Water and Power of calling the people of Sindh as thieves to steal electricity. The utterance of a federal minister is highly objectionable. It is a dangerous trend towards damaging unity among the provinces in particular and the nation in general.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro, MQM’s Khalid Ahmed and Sumita Afzal and Khurram Sher Zaman of PTI signed the censure motion against Abid Sher. In response to censure motion, PML-N’s parliamentary leader Irfanullah Marwat assured the House that he is not defending the federal state minister but he will convey the sentiments of the House to the party’s central leadership and the Prime Minister. The PPP ministers and lawmakers demanded the Prime Minister to stop his federal state minister of using derogatory remarks.
Later, the House passed another resolution moved by MPA Khurram Sher Zaman of PTI, which reads: “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.”
No one made the speech but the House passed the resolution unanimously.
Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro moved “Sindh Criminal Prosecution Service (Constitution, Functions and Powers) Amendment Bill 2014” for consideration, which aimed at ending the appointment of prosecutor general for particular tenure and he/she will hold the post on the behest of the government which meant government can remove him/her when it wanted. MQM’s parliamentary leader Sardar Ahmed opposed the spirit of the amendment in the bill, saying such powers were used during British Raj and the kingdom regimes but not in democratic governments. Rejecting the arguments of Sardar, Dr Mandhro insisted to pass the bill in present form which the House passed into law unanimously as MQM members also voted in favour of it.
After lengthy discussion, the House passed another bill ‘Sindh Shaheed Recognition and Compensation Bill 2014’ unanimously.
The law enforcement agencies including Sindh Police, Sindh Prisons, Pakistan Rangers, Frontier Constabulary and Intelligence Organisation deployed in the province and working in aid of the government would fall in the bill. The LEAs personnel who sacrificed their life in terrorism while performing duty would be recognised with compensation, two jobs for his/her children, higher and other education, scholarships, plots and other rewards for children and legal heirs.
MQM, PML-N and other members suggested that common citizens, who fall victim of terrorism, should be incorporated in the law. On the suggestion of the Chair, Dr Mandhro assured the House that government will bring separate bill for compensation of common citizens who fall victim of terrorism.
Earlier, in reply to a call attention notice moved by Khalid Ahmed of MQM, Mandhro told the House that two police officers - Hyderabad SSP Pir Fareed Jan Sarhandi and Zulfiqar Ali Zardari are simultaneously facing departmental inquiries.
In reply to an adjournment motion moved by MQM’s Irum Azeem Farooque against kidnapping and rape of a five-year-old girl last month in Bheem Pura, Karachi, Mandhro told the House that government will table a law against rape and kidnappings particularly rape of minor girls by ensuring speedy trial and severe punishment to the culprits.
Later, the Chair adjourned the House to meet again on Monday.