KARACHI, Jan 27: In view of the space-crunch in the Sindh Assembly hall, a new plenary hall is being planned to accommodate all the members suitably. The MPAs have to compromise on a crammed up arrangement following an increase of 51 members in the overall strength of the House.
The House previously had a strength of 109 members which has now risen to 160.
The Speaker, Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, disclosed the under- study plan while talking to newsmen before the start of the Monday’s session.
He said that two new committee rooms would also be constructed and that provision for this had been made in the current budget.
The assembly hall was constructed in 1937 after Sindh’s separation from Bombay Presidency. Originally, it was designed to accommodate 62 members only.
The Speaker said that expert architects would be consulted to build a hall having a seating capacity of about 300 members. The old and new halls, he added, would be integrated without harming the historic edifice. He recalled that in this hall, the resolution for the creation of Pakistan was adopted on March 3, 1943.
The Speaker said that the resolution would be embossed and placed where the emblem of the assembly had been fixed. Entry of the names of the Assembly’s Speakers would be made on either side of the stairs.
Though he did not specify, there were indications that the new hall would be constructed in the backyard of the present structure which is also being used as parking lot.
He stated that the PPPP and MMA legislators would also be consulted.
Mr Shah said that for the installation of the video system, tenders had been invited. Audio system, he added, had also been improved.
About the assembly’s library, the Speaker said that it was being upgraded by creating a database.
To a question, he said that the opposition had sought convening of a requisitioned session on Jan 18 and the same had been planned for Jan 30. However, he added, in the meantime the governor convened the session on Jan 27.
Mr Shah said that all out effort would be made to accommodate the opposition and the points raised by it.
The Speaker said that the PPP Parliamentary Party’s leader, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has been notified as the Leader of the Opposition in the House.
He said that Mr Khuhro would be extended all the required facility such as staff, car, etc.
SECURITY: The Assembly Secretariat has also introduced a system that is under practice in the National Assembly to ensure security and smooth proceedings of the House. Under the new plan, installation of scanners for baggage-checking and jamming of all the mobile phones would be carried out so that the House proceedings continued uninterrupted.
He said that from now on, the visitors would not be allowed to go on the first floor. Instead, he added, the staff deployed in the building would direct them to the visitors’ gallery.
Mr Shah said that on the request of MMA members, it had been arranged that the Azan could be heard in the House also.
